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Post by raymondo on Nov 18, 2012 14:02:58 GMT -5
I'm hoping to develop a locally adapted white flour corn. To that end I've pulled together a few cultivars of mostly white flour corns. I planted the first lot yesterday. My spacing is 30 cm (~1') between plants and 45 cm (~1' 6") between rows. I have four rows, each a different cultivar or a mix of cultivars. I intend to stagger plant to try and get everything to cross with everything. I have two questions. 1. Is my spacing adequate? Bear in mind that I'm not looking for high yield at this stage. 2. At what interval should I sow? I know nothing about the maturity of the corns I've got. One 'cultivar' is in fact a mix (thanks Cortona). Would weekly or two-weekly be better? I have room for three sowings, including the one I've already done. Thanks guys.
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Post by Drahkk on Nov 18, 2012 14:52:55 GMT -5
Around here we get good production with 23 cm x 61 cm spacing (9 inch x 2 foot), so as far as root space is concerned, you're spot on. At 45 cm between rows, my only concern would be your ability to fit between the rows once they're grown.
As far as the timing, though, without average maturity days I'm not sure what to tell you. With seed for three sowings, I would do weekly plantings. But if Joseph or Alan or any of our other major corn experts say otherwise, listen to them first.
MB
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Nov 18, 2012 15:50:25 GMT -5
Your plant spacing sounds great. I like to use the development of the corn as the determining factor for planting the next patch. About 154 GDD:50F (83 GDD:10C) equals a 7 day spacing in flowering times. As far as I remember, corn silks on a single cob are susceptible to pollination for about 7 days, and if the plant bears a second cob, it's often a week behind the first cob, so that would take you up to two weeks overlap. I aim for about a 7 to 10 day separation. So I'd plant the second crop when the first crop reaches this stage. This corn is about 180 GDD:50F, or 8 days ahead.
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Post by raymondo on Nov 19, 2012 3:36:31 GMT -5
Thanks Drahkk and Joseph. The picture is very helpful indeed. It's still coolish here with nights in single digits (around 6°C or 43°F) but we've just had some very good rain so there's plenty of moisture about. I'm hopeful that gemination will be good, and not too long, but I don't know the age of most of the seed. As for spacing for access, I'll put a slightly wider spacing between blocks because the end row I want to emasculate. I don't want that cultivar contributing pollen at this point. I'm looking forward to the season.
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Post by mayz on Nov 19, 2012 3:59:36 GMT -5
So I'd plant the second crop when the first crop reaches this stage. This corn is about 180 GDD, or 8 days ahead. At 8 days my maizes are not so tall. Take also into account the freshness of the climate. In fresh climate the flowering may be very extented. 2-3 weeks is not exceptional in my conditions. But yes, make several sowings of the various cultivars together (and not, several sowings of one cultivar)
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Nov 19, 2012 11:30:57 GMT -5
At 8 days my maizes are not so tall. In calendar days, that corn is about 30 days old, because corn grows much slower in cold spring weather than it does during the peak heat of summer. But if I plant my next crop when the first is at this stage, then they will be about 8 days apart at harvest.
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Post by mayz on Nov 19, 2012 12:04:42 GMT -5
I don't need to worry any more. but anyway for me it's time to sow wheat and spelt. Too cold for maize...
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Post by raymondo on Nov 26, 2012 3:08:09 GMT -5
Well, it's warming up here quite quickly. We've had four consecutive days with night-time temps above 10°C (50°F) and more of the same for at least the next week. The corn I sowed 8 days ago is up and powering ahead. I'll be planting batch two by the end of the week at this rate!
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