It is a cereal that provides many nutrients and has been part of our diet for many centuries.
[SOURCE](
Corn can be used to feed both people and livestock. For the latter, besides the grain, the wrappers of the panicles and the leaves of the plant are used. They are eaten with special gluttony by the pigs on the farms.
From it you can make a great variety of dishes as well as you can get a variety of derived products (such as oils, flours, among others).
In some regions it is known that there are different specimens of corn, and in most of the world only a part are consumed, which are the best known and most accessible.
The fruits of corn are grains or hard seeds scientifically called caryopsis or caryopsis. In some countries or regions, both the ear and the beans are called corn. It has a color that varies from white to yellow, or violet to red depending on the type or variety.
How to plant corn?
The best time to plant corn is different depending on the region, climate and varieties since they adapt to the temperature and humidity conditions that exist. However, the planting season of the most ideal maize is with a climate between 13 ° C and 16 ° C, since this plant does not support low temperatures. On the other hand, due to the pollination and reproduction of corn, the climate should not be excessively hot and dry as this may affect its production.
Another point to keep in mind to know how to plant corn is that this plant requires a lot of sun, so it is advisable to sow whenever it is hot, without the need to protect it from sunlight, because if the soil is excessively humid the crop rots. That is why we must let it give a lot of sun, constantly, for its growth and development. So you already know an important step on how to plant corn is that it requires direct sunlight, for at least one hour a day.
PREPARATION OF THE GROUND FOR MAIZE
The land is also important as we talk about how to plant corn, it is necessary that it be fertilized, that is, it must contain organic and inorganic substances as well as being relatively humid. The soil must be well drained, fertile and rich in organic matter and the good availability of nitrogen. The ideal soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.8.
CORN IRRIGATION
One step to keep in mind about how to plant corn is that it should be irrigated frequently, just enough to keep the soil moist, but not getting soaked. Corn has relatively shallow roots and can be very sensitive to lack of water during growth. When the spikes are well developed, such continuous watering is no longer necessary.
You could also install some irrigation system in the land to contribute to the planting of corn more easily, since by watering it from above a good amount of pollen from the plant is eliminated.
TIPS AND STEPS TO SOW MAIZE
One tip on how to plant corn is that the pollen is transported by the wind, which is why it is best to plant it in a group. This will help pollen germination.
Corn seeds are usually planted directly in the garden or plantation, but they can also be planted in seedbeds to be transplanted into the soil when nodules are filled with roots, or in cups made of newspaper, and then make a transplant when the seedlings have 8 to 10 cm.
The spacing between the plants varies according to the crop and the local growing conditions, but a separation of one meter between the rows and 20 cm between the plants can usually be used. For smaller crops, the space can be 80 cm between the rows and 20 cm between plants. For small-scale agriculture, a single space between the plants can be used, which can be 30 cm between the largest varieties of plants and 20 cm between smaller plants.
Another important factor to consider about how to plant corn is that you should not plant two different varieties of corn to flourish at the same time and in the same place and if you want to do so the ideal is to leave a space of at least 400 meters away from each other.
Unlike fruits, such as tomatoes, which always have similar phenotypic characteristics when grown, the corn kernel has phenotypic characteristics that are determined by the fertilization that generates them, giving phenotypic characteristics different from the mother plant. For this reason, it is possible to find ear grains in the corn with different colors in the same spike.
To eliminate weeds should be done carefully, since the roots of corn are superficial and can be easily damaged.
HOW TO SOW MAIZE AT HOME
The maize can be cultivated in large masseters, being appropriate one of 50 cm in diameter, where you can plant up to three seeds of corn, forming a triangle. Only one or two maize seeds can be sown in smaller sized masseters. It is important to have a total of at least four plants to promote good pollination and reproduction of corn, and the ideal is to have at least 9 plants.
It is recommended to take into account that a tip on how to plant corn at home is that you should keep the corn plants forming a square, this is because it is not pollinated by wind or insects, therefore having them in a Compact form increases the likelihood of achieving good corn pollination and reproduction, while linearly dispersing.
WHEN THE CORN IS HARVESTED
The best time to harvest corn is when the kernels are tight and when puncturing it releases a milky liquid, the harvest time of the corn can vary a lot and depends on the type of corn or hybrid that has been planted. The cultivation of corn can be for different purposes, therefore the harvest can take place in about three months or take up to ten months.
The harvest time of corn for use as green corn, is when the spikes are well developed, but before they begin to dehydrate. The harvest peak is usually when the stigmas (corn ear hair) have a brown color. The harvest time of corn for other purposes is only done when the spikes are completely dry.
The best corn crops must be chosen, to extract the seed and keep them for future plantings, these are usually chosen when the plants have grown healthy and producing. Choosing maize seeds at random is a mistake that should be avoided, since only the appearance of grains is a factor among many to choose the right seeds. Being factors of equal importance the vigor of the plant, resistance to diseases and productivity, which should not be overlooked when choosing the grain of corn for use as seed. As for hybrid corn seed, it must be purchased from a qualified producer because hybrid corn usually loses some of its qualities every new generation.
In this way we already know how to plant corn, and the steps we must follow, if you liked it, do not forget to share.
MAIZE BENEFITS
1-You can prevent colon cancer because it contains a large amount of folic acid.
2-It is healthy for pregnancy. Corn harbors high levels of vitamin B, which reduces the risk of babies being born with defects in the brain and spinal cord. For this reason it is ideal for pregnant women. In fact, since 1996 the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has requested that some cereals, such as corn, be enriched with folic acid-which is within the 'family' of vitamin B-.
3-Reduces the risk of suffering a heart attack. As we have said, vitamin B1 contained in corn decreases homocysteine and, therefore, also reduces the risk of suffering a cardiovascular attack. But it is important to note that antioxidants, very remarkable in corn, prevent fats from oxidizing.
4-Precisely, this oxidation is harmful to blood vessels and antioxidants prevent it.
5-Lowers the risk of having a stroke. For the same reason that we explained in point 3: vitamin B1 reduces the level of homocysteine.
6-You can defend yourself from Alzheimer's since corn has more antioxidants than any other cereal. Antioxidants protect our body from free radicals and for this reason could help prevent this degenerative disease. This cereal is also high in vitamin B.
7-It is healthy to maintain your cognitive abilities by how rich it is in antioxidants.
8-Combat stress because pantothenic acid promotes the function of the adrenal glands.
9-It has few calories. Half a cup of corn (approximately 60 grams) contains about 86 calories. It is better to eat this cereal without butter, ketchup or spices.
10-Traditional Chinese medicine considers that corn has these properties for health:
11-It can help stop the bleeding. Traditional Chinese medicine has used it for this.
12-It can increase the secretion of urine. Corn silk is used in China as a remedy to treat urinary problems. It is usually taken in a tea or powder. Corn has diuretic properties.
13 It can detoxify the organism. Through its diuretic properties, corn can help you fight urinary infections and detoxify