Corn Plant Care: Helpful Guide, Care & Tips
Maize is part of our lives not only as a regular ingredient in the kitchen, but also as a raw material. Given its importance and presence in our lives, today we will talk about the care of the maize plant and all the secrets of its cultivation.
The maize plant, which comes from Mexico, has an amazing ability to adapt to developing in places with very different climates. It is said to be the plant of a thousand uses since it is used in many different ways: its grains are consumed directly, cooked or prepared in infinite ways.
In addition, its applications in the manufacture of agri-food, pharmaceutical, chemical, textile or metallurgical products are practically limitless. It's even used as fuel!The corn plant
is made up of 4 parts:
- Stem
The corn stalks remain rigid and upright even if the plant reaches heights that exceed 8 meters in height. They are very similar to sugar cane.
- Inflorescence
Corn produces both male and female flowers. The male part is the most recognizable, herringbone-shaped. The female is a kind of lateral branching that sprouts on both sides of the plant.
- Leaves
The leaves are large in size and elongated in shape. Sometimes their edges can even cut. They are coated with a kind of soft fluff.
- Roots
The roots are responsible for anchoring the plant to the soil. They generally remain underground, although it is not uncommon for some parts to protrude from the ground.
How to Grow the
Corn- Plant Soil Corn
tends to adapt well to all types of soils, although they feel more comfortable in those that have good depth and a lot of nutrients. It is also very important to have well-draining soil to prevent root rot. To prepare your soil optimally, follow these two steps:
Prepare the ground. It is best to plow so that the soil is loose and free of weeds. Sow high-quality seeds to minimize the risk of parasites and disease. Dig furrows in the soil and put the seeds in them, leaving spaces of about 20 cm between them.
- Light
This plant requires a lot of sunlight. In order for it to develop in optimal conditions, it is advisable to sow between the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The sun and heat are its great allies because if the temperatures dropped, the grains would rot.
- Temperature
Corn can withstand minimum temperatures of up to 8º and maximums of 30º. Above or below them, problems can arise caused by improper absorption of the water and nutrients it needs to live. For the plant to bear fruit
- Corn
needs a lot of water, so watering should be done daily. In the growth stage, it doesn't need as much water and you just have to make sure that the humidity level is maintained. When it reaches the vegetative state, it will need to be watered again in order to flower. When the fruit (the cob) is ripening, you can space out the frequency of watering again.
- Fertilizers and fertilizers
In order for corn to grow properly, you must provide it with a good dose of minerals. Use a fertilizer with a good amount of nitrogen, especially in the vegetative growth phase. Then, during the growing period, you can reduce the amount of fertilizer. The last stage of fertilization will be the lightest since it is at that moment when the kernels of the cobs develop. In addition to fertilizer, it's also wise to use a good weed killer to prevent weeds from growing around the plants.
