What varieties of corn are there and how to choose the best one for yourself
Corn belongs to the cereal family and contains a lot of useful vitamins and microelements. The culture is actively used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. Gardeners prefer to grow corn both in greenhouses and in open ground, which depends on the region of planting. In the article we will look at what tasty and high-yielding varieties there are.
Varieties of corn
Corn is secretly called the “queen of fields.” Different types of crops differ from each other in taste, shape and color, and growing method.
Scientists-breeders corn is divided into the following varieties:
- Dessert - has a sweet taste and juicy pulp. Growing dessert varieties is not easy, as they are very sensitive to mineral and organic fertilizers and require regular pinching and hilling. Dessert corn is mainly used in cooking: added to salads, boiled, baked with vegetables.
- Waxy - can be yellow, white and even red. Mainly used in starch production. Most varieties are mid-season, with excellent taste. Waxy corn is especially good when cooked.
- Siliceous varieties grown by gardeners all over the world. Cereals are made into cereals and flakes, so flint corn is often produced on an industrial scale. The color of the grains can be lilac, brown, yellow. Most varieties are late-ripening and productive.
- Dentoform - is a long and large cob with rich yellow grains. The plant is easy to care for and shows stable productivity even in difficult weather conditions. Tooth-shaped varieties are not only eaten, but also grown for use in the production of starch, flour and even alcohol.
- Bursting — is distinguished by its high protein content and the original shape of the grain, which bursts when heated. Its main purpose is the production of puffed cereal and popcorn.
- Mini corn - This is a cone-shaped light cob with small grains. The taste is no different from ordinary corn, the yield is stable.
Interesting. Mexico is considered the birthplace of corn. It was there that the first corn grains were found, which were grown by local residents more than 5-7 thousand years ago. In Europe, corn became popular only in the 15th century, and in Russia - by the end of the 18th century.
Popular varieties of corn
In Russia there are about fifty corn varieties. Let's look at the characteristics of the most famous of them.
Poltava
It is a mid-early hybrid that is grown not only in Russia, but also in neighboring countries.
The plant easily tolerates drought and prolonged absence of sun and does not require watering. The bushes reach 2.5-3 meters in height.
The variety is resistant to insect pests and major crop diseases.
The cob has a cylindrical shape, the length of which is 25 cm. The grains are tooth-like, yellow.
Poltava corn responds positively to organic fertilizers and mineral fertilizers. Fertilizing with urea, Urea preparation, and fresh manure is especially effective. Fertilizers are used at different times of the year, as they have different periods and effects on the crop.
It will be interesting:
What is corn - is it a fruit, a grain or a vegetable?
Orzhitsa
Gives a rich harvest even in open ground. It is grown not only in warm and fertile regions, but even in the Urals and Siberia. The height of the bush varies from 230 to 250 cm.
The cobs are small, their maximum length is 22-24 cm. Orzhitsa is resistant to sudden weather changes, diseases and pests. The hybrid is planted with seeds or using seedlings. The latter method is more suitable - this way the plants quickly adapt to external conditions.
Before planting, Orzhitsa seeds are washed and disinfected. using the drug “Fitosporin+”, which destroys dangerous microbes on the surface of seeds. If this is not done, the risk of plant disease increases. Plant the seedlings in any convenient container and place them on a sunny windowsill.
Seedlings are watered every 7-10 days with warm, settled water., once every 2 weeks, feeding with liquid organic fertilizers.
Megaton
The productive hybrid Megaton f1 is a type of sweet corn, which is distinguished by high taste qualities. It is mid-season; summer residents harvest 82-85 days from planting. The bushes reach a height of 220-240 cm.
The ears are cone-shaped, dark green in color. Megaton is ideal for processing; tasty and healthy soups, cold appetizers, side dishes and desserts are made from corn.
Interesting. Megaton is ideal for making corn muffins, mousses and tartlets. In addition to their sweet taste, the grains are rich in fiber, fatty acids, ascorbic acid, thiamine and beta-carotene. Corn is indispensable for those who adhere to proper nutrition or are on a diet.
Bonduelle
An early sugar variety valued throughout the world. The weight of one cob is about 200 g, the grains are large and yellow.
Bonduelle is sown in early April, the distance between seedlings is at least 30 cm.
After a month, the beds are thinned out, leaving only the strongest and longest stems. Further care consists of timely watering, weeding and loosening the soil.
The vegetable responds well to organic fertilizers, especially for manure and liquid droppings. Organic matter is added not only in the spring, but also in the fall before planting.
After a month, minerals, nitrogen-containing, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are added. The procedures not only increase the plant’s immunity, but also improve the taste of the grains.
Honey Princess
Early ripening sugar variety is used both fresh and after heat treatment.
It got its name due to its juicy and sweet taste. The height of the bush varies from 130 to 155 cm. The cob weighs about 200 g and reaches 17 cm in length.
The skin of the Honey Princess is thin and delicate, the grains are yellow-orange in color.. Corn gives good yield: on average, gardeners harvest about 5 kg of vegetables from 1 sq.m.
In order for the plant to develop effectively and bear fruit well, experienced gardeners recommend regularly loosening the soil. This will allow more oxygen to reach the roots. Loosening is combined with weed removal.
It can be useful:
Gourmand
An early ripening variety grows best in prepared soil. To do this, in the fall, the beds are dug up, peat or humus is added, and all weeds and remains of old plants are burned. With the arrival of spring, the soil is dug up again and wood ash or lime is added to it.They help reduce soil acidity.
Gourmand corn grows in 70-85 days. The height of the bush is on average 170 cm. The length of one cob is about 20 cm, the average weight is 230 g. Gourmand is a resistant variety that rarely suffers from root rot, powdery mildew and other diseases.
Spirit
A high-yielding hybrid will mature in 80-90 days. Height - about two meters, cob length - 20 cm. Corn has large, even yellow grains and excellent taste. Spirit is consumed fresh and boiled, and can also be used to make delicious and healthy canned dishes.
Interesting. Canned corn retains all the vitamins and minerals found in the fresh product. It contains a lot of fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive system, and magnesium in the product is essential for normal heart function.
How to choose a corn variety
Among the variety of corn varieties, it is important not to make a mistake in choosing. If summer residents want to get a tasty and sweet harvest, they give preference to sugar varieties: Bonduelle, Lakomka, Megaton. The taste qualities of these species are high and will appeal to any gourmet and cook.
If the gardener’s priority is simple care and unpretentiousness of the variety, then it’s worth paying attention for corn Orzhitsa, Dobrynya or Spirit. Plants require a minimum of attention and are grown in open ground or in a greenhouse. Unpretentious crops rarely get sick and are not attacked by insect pests.
Important! The choice of variety largely depends on the growing region. Most corn varieties are suitable for warm regions with a favorable climate, and only cold-resistant ones are selected for cultivation in the north of the country. An excellent option is the Pioneer of the North or White Night variety.
Reviews
To find out whether a particular variety is good, you first need to study the description of the variety and reviews of other gardeners. Here are a few of these reviews as examples.
Olesya, Kurgan: “My favorite corn is Honey Princess. I’ve been growing it for four years now, and I’m very pleased with the result. The harvest grows tasty and beautiful. Boiled corn is especially good; we eat this delicacy with the whole family.”.
Alina, Voronezh: “I tried to plant the Spirit variety last spring. I planted seedlings in warm and sunny beds. The result exceeded all my expectations. I received about 4.5 kg of harvest from 1 sq.m. I will definitely grow more".
Evgeniy, Krasnodar:“I planted the Bonduelle variety for the first time. I hoped to get large and sugary grains, but in the end I got hard, slightly yellowish grains. I grew it according to all the rules, but the result leaves much to be desired.”.
Conclusion
Corn, like any cereal crop, is a very healthy product, especially if grown on your own plot. Choosing a suitable variety is not difficult - the main thing is to take into account several points: growing region, taste and care requirements. Corn is good both fresh and after heat treatment.