Corn (Zea mays), native to Mexico, is a plant that provides many nutrients and has been part of our diet for many years. It is one of the most abundant and popular cereals in the world, and also of the most consumed, it stands out for its richness in starch, to a lesser extent fats and proteins, and it does not contain gluten.
Corn, like the rest of the other cereals, contains proteins, lipids and little water, is rich in carbohydrates and fiber, also provides vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, C, E, and minerals as: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine, iron and calcium. There are different ways to consume this cereal, in creams, cakes, arepas, bread, corn flakes, popcorn, margarine, oil, etc. It is very important to bear in mind that corn is used for the feeding of many animals and in the field of cosmetology.
There are many varieties of corn but the ones that stand out the most are the following:
Sweet corn: it is characterized by its sweet taste due to its high content of sugars. It is intended for human consumption.
Hard corn: its grains are hard with a rounded shape. Most of the production of this corn is destined for the manufacture of corn starch and for human consumption.
Toothed corn: its grains look like a tooth. This corn is characterized by agglomerating the hard starch in the tips and being composed of soft starch in the rest of the grain.
Bursting corn: It is round and smaller than the others. He is the employee to make the popcorn of corn.
Corn flour: has a variety of colors. In some countries toasting is consumed.
Baby corn: they are smaller and are used to consume as vegetables.
Waxy corn: In many regions it is used as food. This type of corn is constituted by amylopectin, very useful for athletes since it is an element that the human body absorbs quickly, thus avoiding stomach upsets.
Benefits.
- Powerful source of antioxidants.
- Prevents the appearance of anemia.
- Involved in the growth of bone tissue.
- It is an ally of the brain.
- Reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
- It regulates digestion and cholesterol levels.
- It has few calories.
- It controls diabetes.
- It is healthy for pregnant women.
- They provide energy in the short and long term.
- It helps to fight stress.
- Among others.
Corn cultivation.
- The cultivation of corn is sensitive to high temperatures. It prefers temperate and warm climates.
- It is advisable to plant between May and June.
- It requires enough light.
- It requires clay soils because they retain more moisture. However, they can be grown in different soils, but not with problems of salinity or acidity.
- Once the variety is selected, the seeds are sown directly to the soil, planted in group 1-2 inches from the surface of the soil and 2-3 seeds per hole. It is recommended to sow every 15-20 days to prolong the harvest period.
- These plants require moisture to obtain good development, therefore it requires an abundant watering.
- The soil must have good drainage.
- Eliminate the weeds that grow around the plants.
- The harvest is collected approximately 3 months after sowing, depending on the variety and time of sowing. A method to know when we should harvest is 15 to 20 days after having developed the beard. The best time for consumption is in summer, between the months of June and September.
Fuente
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Thanks for all the great info on the versatile corn! Did you mean to say 12 months after sowing before you harvest it? The sweet corn grown here is off in 120 days.
@naturalmedicine, I'm sorry, I'm wrong. The harvest is tof 3 - 4 months after sowing.