Yes, you can grow corn seed from the grocery store but the results may vary.
Corn as we all know is an extremely versatile and tasty vegetable. It is a type of cereal grain but the whole corn on the cob is considered a vegetable and it is kernels are considered to be grains. Corn is also called Maize in many countries and is originally from southern Mexico.
Corn is one of those vegetables that is eaten all over the world and for centuries now. It is extremely healthy and is rich in fibers, vitamins, and minerals such as copper, magnesium, iron, and zinc. There are various types of corn, some of them are sweet corn, pod corn, dent corn, Indian flint corn, and the list goes on.
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Why Results From Planting Grocery Store Corn Seeds Will Vary
As stated above results will very when you plant corn seeds from the grocery store. This is because the corn seed you buy from the grocery is generally for making popcorn so it is possible that if a plant has been grown from these seeds may not reach up to your expectations.
It is also possible that the grocery bought corn if germinated it may not taste very good. This is because the seeds from the grocery are for popcorn which has no flavor and tastes good only after you put in some extra flavoring agent.
Once these kernels are grown and are ready for consumption you will see that the corn is not very tasty or sweet but starchy. It is important to understand that if you try to grow this crop you need to give it more care than usual as the growth of this crop may have unpredictable results and may grow very fast or very slow. So, the corn from the grocery store can be grown and can be edible too but may not be very tasty.
How to Plant Corn Seeds From The Grocery Store?
Here is how you can plant corn seeds from the grocery store.
- Start with choosing a spot to grow your corn. Choose a plot of land that has a great drainage system as corn requires a lot of water to grow. With an adequate amount of water, the plant may not grow to its true potential. Make sure to choose a spot that gets full sunlight. Now start with digging the garden.
- Now dig the soil into a 12 inches deep hole and mix a quarter of it with compost. The compost will help with the drainage process. It requires the soil temperature to be at least 16-degree Celcius to grow properly and to its full potential.
- Next start with planting the popcorn in a grid formation. Plant the seeds in a row of 12 seeds and try to keep at least a 6 inches gap between them. Bury the seeds 2 inches deep so that the plant can come out strong.
- Water the plant very well and always keep it moist. The soil needs to be well moist for the corn plant to germinate well.
- Start applying fertilizer with side dressing once it reaches your knee level. Side dressing provides extra nutrition to the plant and helps it grow to its full potential. And keep watering the plant well.
- Fertilize the plant again when you see visible silk coming out from the top. Keep watering the plant and keep the soil moist at all times.
- Once you see that the stalls have died and the shucks are turning brown and are dying, that is the time to pick out one popcorn and give it a test. Not exactly the same as dill turning brown which is a bad sign.
- Poke a few seeds and observe them if they are hard then try to pop one or two on the gas. If you see that it is not popping then you need to understand that your plant is still too moist. Let the plant dry for one more week and then pop them again.
- Once you see that the seeds are popping you need to understand that your plant is completely mature and can be removed from the soil.
- Another way of understanding that the plant is mature is to observe the plant very carefully when you see the tassels are turning brown and the corn has swollen up to open a cob to check. If you see that the kernels are big and milky looking you need to understand your plant is matured.
- To harvest the corn you need to hold the cob and start pulling the ears in a downwards motion. Try to twist it off to remove it from the stalk.
- If you keep the corn for a lot of time without harvesting it, it may lose its taste at all and become bland. Once harvested try to consume it as soon as possible. If you want to preserve your corn to make something else start with the preservation process as soon as possible.
Difference Between Grocery Bought Corn Seeds and Corn Seeds Meant For Planting.
As we all know, corn has various types, some of them are good for planting and some of them are not. In this case, grocery bought corn seeds are a lot different than the regular corn seeds that are generally used in the process of plantation. Here is the difference between both types of corn.
Grocery Bought Corn Seeds
Grocery brought corn seed may not taste very good once it is grown at home as it has a completely different way of cultivation. These corn have brown silk coming out and have green leaves with a little brown color on the edges. These corns are cultivated very fast. The kernels are extremely tight and are difficult to pull out with bare hands. These corns are not directly from the field but are modified.
These corns are yellow or white when cultivated and have a sweet taste to them. This is generally the sweet corn and corn kernels for popcorn. These are also used to make canned corn and do not grow very tall.
Corn Seeds Meant For Planting
Corn seeds that are meant for planting are very different from the grocery bought corn seeds. These corn seeds are also called field corn. It is not very good to taste on the field and tastes good once it is cooked. These field corns are high in starch content and very low in sugar content. These corns are not cultivated as fast as sweet corn or popcorn. These take a much longer time to grow and mature.
Not only this but these corn grow way taller than sweet corn or popcorn. These corns take a longer time to dry and lose the moisture they get from the watering. These cairns are generally used to make corn flakes, tortillas, corn syrup, cornmeal, corn starch, and so on.
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Planting Corn Seeds From The Grocery Store
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of planting grocery bought corn seeds.
Advantages Of Planting Corn Seeds From The Grocery Store
- Grocery-bought corn seeds when planted grow faster than the regular field corn seeds.
- These types of corn when cultivated have a longer shelf life and can survive without the use of fertilizers.
- It helps us in knowing the true nature of the plant.
- It is great for experimental purposes.
- These do not grow very big which makes it easier to manage and water.
Disadvantages Of Planting Corn Seeds From The Grocery Store
- Grocery bought corn when cultivated does not have very good taste and is generally very starchy.
- The growth of these corn plans is very unpredictable as the seeds used to grow them are modified and not natural.
- These seeds when grown do not have a lot of nutritional benefits.
- These seeds when planted would require more water, more fertilizers, and care.
- These corns may be tougher than the regular ones.
- These corns can only be used to make popcorn or other corn dishes but cannot be made into cornflakes, corn syrups, or tortilla chips.
- It cannot be planted anywhere. It needs to be planted in areas that receive full sunlight and needs to be watered twice daily.
Corn or maize is delicious, versatile, and is a very delicate crop to grow. When growing it with the grocery bought corn seeds it is important to understand that it may not grow up to your desired type.
You need to be very patient with growing grocery bought corn seeds. It is possible that these seeds may take much less or even longer to grow and may not even be very tasty.
This is because the grocery bought corn seeds have very little sugar content and more starch content present in them. It is also very important to grow the crop in a plot of land that receives full sunlight. With sunlight, it would also require a lot of water and a good drainage system for the plant to grow up to its full potential.
Most importantly it is crucial to treat the crop like any other plant and should be given immense care and attention. It is not a bad idea to grow corn seeds from the grocery store and is best for the experiential process.
