The delicious, crunchy corn kernels have been a staple food of the South American Incas for thousands of years. Sugar-sweet varieties can be grown in the garden and even on the balcony with little effort. In this guide you will learn how best to grow corn yourself and achieve a rich harvest.

Which plants are suitable for growing in the garden?

Although there has been a great deal of maize planting on German fields for a number of years, this is fodder or hybrid maize. This is not fit for human consumption. In the home garden, on the other hand, sweet or sweet corn varieties are grown, which taste very sweet due to the high starch content. One of the most popular varieties is the golden-yellow sweetcorn variety Golden Bantam.

Can corn also thrive on the balcony?

The decorative corn plants also thrive on the balcony, provided the plants are planted in sufficiently large and deep pots and are in a sunny, wind-protected spot. The plants grown on the windowsill are planted at least 20 x 30 centimeters apart. Varieties that stay small, such as strawberry corn, an ornamental corn variety, are best suited for growing on the balcony. Please note that corn is a deep rooter, i. H. the planters should be very deep.

In which location does corn thrive best?

Maize needs a sunny location that is as sheltered from the wind as possible.

What soil is suitable for growing corn?

In order to achieve a corresponding yield, your corn plants need nutrient-rich, deep soil. Before spreading on the bed, compost should be introduced into the soil.

Should corn be preferred?

Since the sensitive corn plants can only be brought onto the bed quite late, they should be brought up in a sheltered place. Of course you can also sow the seeds directly on the bed, but then you will have to wait longer until the harvest.

When is the best time to apply to the bed?

The plant does not tolerate frost, which is why seeds or early plantlets should only be placed on the bed after the ice saints (around the beginning to the middle of May).

Which fertilizer makes sense when?

Before sowing or planting, the soil should be well fertilized with lime. In the course of the growth period, about three nitrogen doses should also be given. In autumn, the soil can be prepared for planting with the addition of phosphorus and potash.

diseases and pests

When corn is grown in the garden, diseases and pest infestations are rare. To avoid possible damage from corn smut or cob rot, corn should not be planted on the same bed for several years in a row.

harvest time

The cobs of corn can be harvested about three weeks after flowering. This is usually the case between the end of July and mid-August.

tips and tricks

Corn needs a lot of water, especially when the cobs are starting to grow. Don't forget regular, vigorous watering!

IJA

Category:

Vegetable garden