Both children and adults love to eat sweet corn. There is always a place for planting a crop, it can be either the border of the hedge or the middle of the site. The main thing is that there is a bed well lit by the sun's rays. Beginning gardeners should familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of agricultural technology before starting planting work. Taking into account the region, it is necessary to decide whether or not to fear frosts in spring and plant corn, be sure to take this factor into account.
When to plant corn in the spring in the Moscow region, Siberia and the Urals?
You should not rush to plant seeds in open ground, they will not germinate in cold ground. In the southern part of Russia, planting at dachas begins in early May... For the middle zone and the Moscow region, the terms are often shifted by 2-3 weeks. Cold-resistant varieties provide for early sowing, however, to protect young shoots from freezing, it is recommended to use a covering material at night. If weather conditions do not allow starting sowing, the seedling method of growing crops, which is typical for the Urals and Siberia, should be used.
The weather conditions of Siberia make it possible to obtain the fruits of milky-wax ripeness; full ripening does not occur due to climatic features. Planting begins in late May or early June. Experts do not recommend soaking the seeds; it is enough to do with the planting of good quality corn. And in order to germinate the shoots faster, a black agrofibre cover is used. It attracts the sun's rays, creates a favorable environment for the development of sprouts.
Landing dates are indicative. You need to start work taking into account the temperature of the soil warming up. It should be within 10-12 ° C.
Can the plant tolerate frost and what temperature does it withstand in spring?
South America and the middle strip of the continent are considered the homeland of corn, which indicates the heat-loving culture. The breeders had to make a lot of efforts to breed varieties and hybrids that are resistant to spring frosts... Seeds planted in open ground and seedlings withstand a minimum temperature of -1-2 ° C, and some hybrids even up to -4 ° C. This is a great achievement, because the optimal temperature indicators in which the sprout develops are 12-18 ° C (the biological minimum is determined by the range of 8-10 ° C).
The germination rate of seedlings changes depending on the temperature regime. The biological minimum ensures the germination of shoots in 18-20 days, while at + 20 °, the shoots appear above the soil surface in 5-8 days.
When planting corn seeds for the first time, you need to focus on the average monthly temperature. As a safety net, cover material should be prepared that will protect the seedlings from spring frosts.
How to properly plant corn outdoors?
To grow the crop we want, we have to follow some rules of how to grow the crop. Sow seeds on time, plant seedlings on time, remember that corn, like any other inhabitant of the garden, is afraid of frost, can hardly endure it (after all, Siberia is not Ukraine), as well as loosen the earth and feed the plant in time. It depends on how it will grow and how many fruits from the summer cottage will appear at the home.
How to plant seeds and grow seedlings
You can plant a crop in open ground by seed and seedlings. For correct sowing of seeds for seedlings at home, cassettes (cells with a volume of 45 cm2) or peat pots (diameter 12 cm) are used. The containers are filled with fertile soil, mixed in equal proportions with humus or compost. To reduce irrigation work, a hydrogel is added to the soil mixture. This component allows you to increase the moisture content of the substrate, reducing the number of procedures for moisturizing seedlings by 3-4 times.
In the spring, before sowing, the seeds must be soaked, they are spent in a damp cloth for 5-7 days. After soaking, the swollen grains are buried in prepared containers by 3-4 cm (3-4 pieces are placed in the pots, 2 pieces in the cassette cell).
Seed germination is slow. At this stage, it is important to maintain the desired temperature and good lighting.... With a lack of natural light, daylight lamps are installed, so they will grow faster. After the formation of 3-4 leaves on the shoots, weak shoots should be removed, leaving only strong-looking seedlings. A week before transferring seedlings to open ground, it is necessary to harden daily to adapt to their natural habitat.
Landing in the spring in the ground at their summer cottage, scheme
For corn beds, choose a place without shading. The plant is drought-resistant, one of the main conditions for the growing season is a sufficient amount of sunlight. Compliance with the planting scheme is considered an equally important point, because corn is a cross-pollinated species. For this reason, the bed is formed from several rows, otherwise there may be problems with pollination. Experienced gardeners use the following planting options:
- rows with 2 seeds per hole (distance between holes - 35 cm, row spacing - 45-50 cm);
- in a square-nesting way (the interval between plants is 45 cm on all sides or 9 shoots per 1 m2).
Preparing the soil in the country for growing crops
The area for the bed must be carefully cleaned, removing all plant residues and weeds. It is better to do this in the fall, so that after digging, the larvae and pests will freeze out at the first frost. The soil will be ready for planting corn if legumes or pumpkin crops, potatoes, cabbage were grown in front of it.
Rotten manure is the most suitable fertilizer.... Complex mineral products that enrich the soil with micronutrients are also suitable. The structure of the soil must be loose so that the root system develops unhindered. Heavy soil is diluted with chopped straw or sawdust.
The earth is first loosened, then the locations of the holes are outlined. The immersion depth of the seed is determined taking into account two factors: the degree of soil moisture and the condition of the seeds (dry or germinated). Swollen grains are embedded in moist and warm soil to a depth of 3-4 cm, dry ones - by 5-6 cm.
The development of each culture is facilitated in particular by the proximity to other plants. The following companions are suitable for corn: cucumbers, pumpkin, beans and other beans. If it is planted between rows, such as cucumbers, it is important to leave enough space to ensure that both vegetables are adequately nourished.
Care after planting so as not to be afraid of frost
Many people consider corn an unpretentious plant that requires only weeding. However, it is not. To get a good harvest and ears with excellent taste, you will have to follow simple rules of care.
Watering
Corn loves moisture, it can absorb up to 4 liters per day. But this does not mean that the garden needs to be filled. Waterlogging slows down the development of the root system, changes the color of the leaves (a purple tint appears). These factors threaten the yield of the crop, so irrigation should be carried out taking into account the degree of soil moisture. The optimal soil index is 70-80%. During irrigation, 1-2 liters of water are consumed for each bush. If it is not possible to regularly water it, it is recommended to periodically loosen the ground. This procedure is popularly called dry irrigation. Loosening essentially prevents the soil from drying out. But the best way to maintain moisture in the beds is to use a spot irrigation system.
Water consumption rates are different at each stage of plant development. After planting the seedlings, moderate watering will be required, after the formation of 7 leaves, the amount of liquid increases to 1.5 liters per bush. After the fibers on the cobs begin to darken, irrigation is carried out less frequently or the amount of water used is reduced.
Weeding, loosening
Weeding prevents thickening of the beds, which so attracts pests, creates favorable conditions for the development of diseases. Therefore, sprouted weeds are periodically removed from the site.
It is rational to combine this procedure with soil loosening and hilling. This increases the air permeability of the soil, allowing oxygen to feed the deeper layers. With this care, the root system develops better, the plant's immunity is strengthened. As the stem forms, the corn becomes more resilient, which allows it to withstand both gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
Top dressing
In addition to fertilizing the soil at the stage of preparing the beds, it is necessary to feed the plants. This is due to the growth of green mass throughout the growing season. Complementary feeding is introduced in several stages, and nutrients for each of them are strictly defined.
The first feeding consists of slurry or a solution of bird droppings, applied after the formation of the 4th leaf on the shoot. After 2-3 weeks, a second dressing is introduced, consisting of 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium salt, 40 g of superphosphate per 1 m2. After the appearance of 7-8 leaves, the plant needs nutrition with zinc, boron, copper and manganese.
When using fertilizers, you should not increase the consumption rates. An overabundance of minerals is as dangerous for shoots as their deficiency.
Agricultural technology of corn is simple. One of the main issues requiring attention is the temperature regime, the observance of which creates favorable conditions for the vegetation of the plant.