Cultivating Gold: Caring for Your Corn Crop This Season
Want a great corn harvest? You need to care for your plants. Sweet, golden kernels come from good work. Corn needs steady help. Watch it from sprout to full ear.
Watering is super important. Corn drinks a lot of water. This is true when it grows fast. It also needs water when tassels and silks pop out. Give it deep, steady drinks. Try for an inch of water weekly. Add more when it's hot and dry. Enough water means strong stalks. It also means full ears of corn.
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Feeding your corn matters too. Make sure your soil has enough nitrogen. This keeps stalks green and healthy. When plants are knee-high, add fertilizer. Spread it next to the rows. This gives them a big push. It helps them grow strong. It also fills out the kernels.
Don't forget about weeds. Weeds fight your corn. They steal water and food. This stops corn from growing big. Pull weeds often. Or just scratch the soil lightly. You can also add mulch. This keeps weeds away. Be careful not to hurt corn roots.
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As corn gets older, think about pollination. Air needs to move freely. This helps pollen spread. Wind does most of the work. But healthy plants make full ears. Watch out for bugs like corn earworms. Also, check for diseases like rust. Find problems early. Treat them quickly. This stops big damage.
Give your corn steady care. Give it water and good food. Keep weeds and pests away. This sets up your harvest for success. Seeing tall stalks grow is great. Watching ears swell is even better. It feels good to have a successful season.
This article is in response to contest organised by @gertu
Thank you every one for reading here.
Have you planted corn with your own hands? Or does your family do it?
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What have your ancestors taught you about planting in your garden?