Sowing corn in the open ground: seed preparation, timing

Corn is not only very tasty, but also very valuable agricultural crop. In addition to unsurpassed taste qualities, corn cobs have useful properties, since they contain a huge range of elements useful for the human body. In cultivation, the queen of the fields is rather unpretentious, so many truck farmers annually plant it on their plots. Correct sowing of corn is the guarantee of the future harvest, therefore this stage should be given special attention.

Selecting a place for planting corn

Regardless of the variety, this crop likes light, well-cultivated sandy loams, sandy and loamy soils with a pH of at least 5.6, which are easily penetrated by moisture and solar heat. Categorically it is not recommended to sow corn seeds in re-compacted soils!

Another important factor affecting yields is the selection of previous crops growing in the previous season at the place where corn is planned to be grown. Good predecessors include cereals, tilled and leguminous crops.

The sowing of corn should be carried out after the autumn plowing and the spring pre-sowing cultivation of the soil with a cultivator. The prepared soil must also be enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers.

A sufficient amount of moisture is a prerequisite for the formation and good growth of corn. Autumn plowing helps to ensure the necessary soil moisture. During its "rest", the loose ground accumulates a sufficient amount of moisture so that the corn seeds quickly turn into strong and healthy shoots.

Variety choice

Specialty stores offer a huge variety of hybrid varieties. The timing of sowing of maize of all sorts is almost the same, however, other characteristics are different. When choosing a seed material, it is necessary to take into account factors such as the direction of economic use of a particular variety (food or fodder), yield, taste, maturity, resistance to adverse environmental conditions, pests and diseases.

Presowing seed treatment

For planting, calibrated seeds are selected without any external defects. To ensure good germination, the seeds of corn are prepared for sowing. A week before sowing it is recommended to produce their air-heat heating at a temperature of 25-35 degrees and good ventilation. The warmed seeds germinate better and faster, develop and yield a good harvest.

After 5 days, the seeds are washed, sorting out poor-quality material along the way (if you put the seeds in a container and fill with water, the quality ones will remain on the bottom, and the spoiled ones will float to the surface). Then they wrapped in gauze and soaked in clean water at room temperature for 2-3 days before pecking the sprouts.

Before the sowing of corn is carried out, it is recommended to dress seeds with special preparations in order to protect against pests and diseases.

Duration of sowing

This indicator depends on the climatic pattern of a particular region. Sowing corn in the open ground can be carried out at an average daily temperature of +10 degrees and there is no threat of frost. The optimal period is the middle of May. By this time, the soil at the required depth of planting usually also has time to warm up to a similar temperature index.

The calendar of corn sowing is strongly discouraged, as non-observance of terms directly affects the final result. Every day of delay with landing reduces the yield level by 1%.

Scheme of sowing maize seeds

The depth of planting of this crop is from 3 to 5 cm. The soil must have sufficient moisture and completely cover the seeds. Deeper than 5 cm they are not recommended for sealing, as this will negatively affect the timing of emergence.

Corn is sown in rows. The distance between the plants and the spacing between the rows depends on the variety. Packages from seeds usually contain recommended planting patterns. However, it is worthwhile to think in advance about the convenience of caring for corn. In other words, the corn should be sown in such a way that in the future there will be unproblematic access to each plant for weeding, fertilizing, watering and collecting cobs.

The optimal distance between plants in the row is 20-25 cm, the width of rows between rows is 50-70 cm.

Seed care

After emergence of sprouts, regular loosening of the soil and careful removal of weeds should be carried out. Weed plants impoverish the soil and take out of it the moisture necessary for corn. Plus, they drown out young shoots, preventing them from developing normally.

Loosening of the earth is recommended after rain or watering. So the soil will stay moist longer. By the way, corn does not tolerate a drought, so it should be watered, if there is no rain for a long time. However, excess moisture should also be avoided, since too moist soil makes air access to the roots of the plant difficult.

Fertilizing plants

When there are 5 leaflets on corn seedlings, they should be supplemented with superphosphates, potassium salt and ammonium nitrate. These fertilizers are introduced into the soil in the form of solutions. Dose recommendations are usually indicated in the drug instructions.

The second feeding is carried out during the flowering of corn, and the third - when the cobs begin to form.

The composition of the soil directly affects the need of the plant in this or that fertilizer. The condition of the leaves will be able to tell what fertilizer corn is lacking. So, for example, when nitrogen starvation leaves will turn yellow and dry up. Lack of phosphorus will manifest reddening of leaves, and potassium deficiency - slowing down their growth and damage in the form of burns.

Harvesting

Timely harvesting of corn will allow you to enjoy its unsurpassed taste. The most palatable value of the cob is at the stage of dairy ripeness. Young, juicy and sweet corn is consumed in boiled form, it is preserved and marinated. As a guide for determining the harvesting period, you can use a period of 20-25 days after the end of flowering.

There are also several visual signs of corn readiness:

• The edges of the upper wraps begin to dry slightly.
• The wrappers, which are drier on the outside and still wet inside, tightly tighten the heads.
• The pistil filaments have not dried up, but have already acquired a slightly brownish hue.
• The grain is round and elastic throughout the height of the head.
• The color of the grains is no longer white, but light yellow.
• With a slight pressure, the shell of the grain bursts, releasing the milk-sugar liquid.

Harvesting of corn usually begins in late July - early August. Forming and ripening of cobs occur in several stages, so fresh fruits can please their taste for several weeks in a row.