Choosing a suitable variety of corn for popcorn and growing it on our own plot
Popcorn is a favorite homemade treat for many adults and children. But not every sort of grain is suitable for its preparation, because corn for popcorn has grains that do not just burst, but open when heated. That is why special varieties are used to prepare crispy delicacies, which have received the unofficial name "popcorn".
What makes popcorn corn different
Each corn seed contains a drop of water with a particle of starch. During the heating process, the water evaporates and turns into steam. It is then released from the shells of the corn seed, causing a small "explosion".
At the same time, moisture under the influence of heat is evenly distributed throughout the grain, softens and fluffs it up, making the taste softer and more uniform.
Popcorn corn contains significantly less starch than conventional varieties, and 22% more protein and fat.
Popcorn corn - popular varieties
There are a large number of popcorn varieties bred by breeders. Such varieties differ in the size of the cobs, the color of the grains - they can be golden yellow, orange or brown-red.
Which corn is suitable for popcorn:
- Lopai - Lopai is one of the most popular varieties, up to 130-150 cm high. It is distinguished by its early ripening period and large size of golden-orange grains.
- Ping Pong is a tall corn, reaching 180-220 cm. The ears are 11-13 cm long with round, lemon-yellow seeds. The main disadvantage of the variety is its tallness, which requires a lot of space for growing a crop.
- Zeya is a popular early ripening popcorn variety with a ripening period of no more than 85 days. The plant reaches 1.6-1.8 m in height, and the length of the cobs is up to 17-20 cm. The grains are oblong, claret-red in color.
- Red popcorn - this variety got its name for the rich burgundy-red shade of the grains. This is a stunted crop with shoots 1-1.3 m high and ears 13-15 cm in size.
- Vnuchkina Joy is a medium-sized plant up to 1.4-1.6 m in height and small cobs, which rarely exceed 13-16 cm. The grains are rich in peach color.
- The hotel is one of the tallest varieties of popcorn corn. Its shoots can grow up to 2.1-2.3 m in height. Large ears, 23-26 cm in size, consist of yellow seeds, which are distinguished by excellent taste.
No less popular among farmers and gardeners, Vulcan - this variety of popcorn corn is considered an ideal base for making popcorn by its taste characteristics.
The plant is tall, up to 1.9-2.2 m in height. The Vulkan variety has large ears of 20-23 cm in size with rounded grains of golden yellow color.
Growing corn for popcorn
Growing corn for popcorn has its own subtleties and nuances that differ from the care of conventional sugar varieties.
Basic rules for growing:
- Popcorn corn can be grown on almost any soil - podzolic, black earth, loamy, clayey. The only exception is sandy soil, which is not suitable for growing crops.
- All varieties of popcorn corn are thermophilic, so they can be planted only after the soil warms up to at least + 15 ° C.
- Corn loves sunlight, so it's best to find a well-lit area for growing corn.
- Areas with a high groundwater level are not suitable for growing a crop, since its roots do not tolerate stagnant moisture.
- When choosing a place to plant popcorn corn, be sure to consider the "predecessors" in the garden. Areas after potatoes are best suited tomato, beets and carrots.
- Popcorn maize should not be planted next to sugar varieties - they will lose their original characteristics during the process of cross-pollination.
Given the heat-loving nature of corn, it is best to plant its seeds in May. At this time, the soil is already warming up enough and the risk of recurrent frosts disappears.
Planting corn
Corn seeds must be properly prepared before planting. This will help the popcorn corn to root better and rise faster. The seeds should be sorted out, then filled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin and left for 3-4 hours.
Also, corn kernels can be germinated in advance. To do this, they need to be soaked, then placed in a napkin and moistened well. The seeds should remain in this form until germination, but care must be taken to ensure that the napkin does not dry out.
Popcorn corn planting technique:
- the site for planting seeds needs to be dug up;
- prepare landing pits up to 5-6 cm deep, leaving a distance of 25-30 cm between them;
- water the wells abundantly;
- place 2-3 grains in each hole;
- sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
To increase the yield of corn, popcorn is best planted in rows, leaving 60-70 cm between them.
To protect from the night coolness, crops can be covered with plastic wrap. After 12-14 days, you can see the first corn shoots.
Corn care
Popcorn corn needs special care, which must be provided to the plant immediately after the first shoots appear.
Popcorn Corn Care Guidelines:
- The plant needs abundant and regular watering. Its powerful root system requires a lot of moisture. Depending on weather conditions, corn should be watered 1-2 times a week.
- It is especially important to moisten corn during germination, the formation of panicle inflorescences and 2-3 weeks after the end of flowering. The plant should be watered at the root, in the early morning or late evening.
- Fertilization is very important for active growth and productivity of corn. After the appearance of the first 4-6 true leaves, nitrogen-containing fertilizing is applied. For this purpose, ammonium nitrate, urea or mullein infusion is used.
- 10-15 days before flowering, corn should be fed with fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus.
- An important part of caring for a quality crop is pinching. All lateral shoots growing at the base of the central stem must be removed manually or using a garden pruner. Due to this, the cobs have a larger size and excellent taste.
There are many varieties of popcorn available for making popcorn. Their cultivation has its own subtleties and nuances. Knowing what kind of corn is needed for popcorn and how to care for the crop makes it easy to grow a suitable variety on your backyard and prepare a delicious and crunchy treat yourself.