6 SWEET CORN – 6.111 - GROWING and SOIL

 
ORGANIC FARMING COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY   
6 SWEET CORN – 6.111 - GROWING and SOIL

 
Sweetcorn must be planted in rectangular blocks, not as a single row. This will ensure effective wind pollination of the female flowers.
Outdoor sowing may be reliable in the south but in other areas sow under cloches or preferably in pots indoors. Roots disturbance must be avoided, so use 3 in. peat pots – not clay or plastic ones. Sow 2 seeds about 1 in. deep in seed compost – leave 18 in. between transplants.
 
LOOKING AFTER THE CROP
Remove cloches when the foliage touches the glass. Protect seedlings with black cotton if birds are a nuisance. Keep down weeds but do not hoe close to the plants.
Roots will appear at the base of the stem – cover them with soil or a mulch f old compost. The sideshoots (‘tillers’) which may develop should not be removed.
Water in dry weather – this is especially important at flowering time. Stake if the plants are tall and the side is exposed.
Tapping the tassels at the top of each stem when they are fully developed, this will help pollination. Liquid feed when the cobs begin to swell.
 
SOIL FACTS
There are two basic soil requirements – good drainage and enough humus to ensure that the ground will not dry too quickly out. Ideally it should be slightly acid, reasonably fertile and deep, but the situation is more important than the soil type.
Choose a spot in full sun which is sheltered from the wind. Rake in Grow more fertilizer about 2 weeks before sawing or planting.
 
Text from The Vegetable & Herb Expert D.D.G. Hessayon

KOZI YA KILIMO HAI KILIMO-UCHUMI
6 MAHINDI TAMU – 6.111 - KUKUA NA UDONGO
 
Nafaka tamu lazima ipandwe katika vizuizi vya mstatili, sio kama safu moja. Hii itahakikisha uchavushaji mzuri wa upepo wa maua ya kike.
Kupanda kwa nje kunaweza kutegemewa kusini lakini katika maeneo mengine panda chini ya vifuniko au ikiwezekana kwenye sufuria ndani ya nyumba. Usumbufu wa mizizi lazima uepukwe, kwa hiyo tumia sufuria 3 za peat - sio udongo au plastiki. Panda mbegu 2 kuhusu inchi 1 ndani ya mboji ya mbegu - acha inchi 18 kati ya vipandikizi.
 
KUANGALIA MAZAO
Ondoa vifuniko wakati majani yanagusa glasi. Linda miche kwa pamba nyeusi ikiwa ndege ni kero. Zuia magugu lakini usipige jembe karibu na mimea.
Mizizi itaonekana chini ya shina - kuifunika kwa udongo au matandazo ya mbolea ya zamani. Vipuli vya pembeni (‘tillers’) vinavyoweza kutokea havipaswi kuondolewa.
Maji katika hali ya hewa kavu - hii ni muhimu hasa wakati wa maua. Shika ikiwa mimea ni mirefu na upande umefunuliwa.
Kugonga pindo juu ya kila shina wakati zimekua kikamilifu, hii itasaidia uchavushaji. Chakula cha kioevu wakati maganda huanza kuvimba.
 
MAMBO YA UDONGO
Kuna mahitaji mawili ya msingi ya udongo - mifereji ya maji nzuri na humus ya kutosha ili kuhakikisha kuwa ardhi haitakauka haraka sana. Inapaswa kuwa na asidi kidogo, yenye rutuba na kina, lakini hali ni muhimu zaidi kuliko aina ya udongo.
Chagua mahali kwenye jua kamili ambalo limehifadhiwa kutoka kwa upepo. Rake in Panda mbolea zaidi takriban wiki 2 kabla ya kukata au kupanda.

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