Permapotes

Corn

Corn: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

Maize is an annual plant in the grass family, Poaceae, with the botanical name Zea mays. It is grown for its kernels and recognised by its tall stems and long leaves. In vegetable gardens, sweetcorn is valued for tender, juicy, sweet kernels. This is only one use of the species, which also includes types intended for dry grain or popcorn. The name corn therefore covers crops with different culinary characteristics.

The stem bears elongated leaves that wrap around it at their bases before spreading outwards. Each leaf has a noticeable central rib. Height and vigour differ according to variety and growing conditions. This upright outline gives maize a strong presence in a vegetable garden, contrasting with low rosettes and trailing crops. Its leafy shape is recognisable even before the ears have developed.

Male and female flowers are separate but occur on the same plant. The male flowers form the tassel at the top of the stem, which releases pollen. Female flowers are grouped in the developing ears at the leaf axils. Long threads known as silks receive pollen carried mainly by wind. Each silk connects to an ovule that can become a kernel, so successful pollination influences how fully an ear develops.

Kernels form in rows around a central cob, enclosed by protective husk leaves. They may be yellow, white or other colours depending on the type. Sweetcorn is valued while the kernels are still tender. Grain maize is intended for more mature, dry kernels. Baby corn consists of young ears eaten whole before pollination, rather than simply a smaller version of a fully developed ear.

Popcorn varieties have kernels suited to popping when heated. Not every maize type gives the same result. Sweetcorn varieties also differ in sugar content, texture and how quickly their kernels lose eating quality. Colour alone does not tell you a variety’s intended use or flavour. These differences explain why the choice of type matters as much as the appearance of the ear.

In the kitchen, sweetcorn accompanies salads, soups and vegetable dishes, or is served as cooked ears. Dry kernels from suitable types provide meal and flour used in foods such as polenta and tortillas. Maize combines varied culinary uses with a distinctive structure, in which leaves, tassels and ears occupy different parts of the plant.

Corn
Corn
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Annual
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
  • Mature height : 250 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
  • Sowing Depth : 2 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 15 cm
  • Row Spacing : 50 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : High
  • Pollination : Wind-pollinated
  • Propagation : Sowing