When is the best time to plant spring corn?

Some friends may say that the earlier the spring corn is planted, the better it will grow in the later stage and the higher the yield will be. Is that true? This is not the case!

1. When is the best time to plant corn?

There is no clear answer to this question. The sowing time should be determined based on many factors, such as the local temperature accumulation zone, variety, climate conditions, soil conditions, fertilizer usage, irrigation conditions, etc.

For example, the best sowing time for spring corn in Heilongjiang Province is generally between April 25 and May 1 in the first accumulation temperature zone, between May 1 and 5 in the second and third accumulation temperature zones, and between May 5 and 15 in the fourth accumulation temperature zone.

Of course, it also depends on the weather conditions. For example, in 2020, it was the best time to plant corn, but unexpectedly there was a heavy snowfall. As the temperature had risen, the snow on the ground melted, and the planter could not enter the field, and we almost missed the planting period.

Through the experience of planting corn in Wudalianchi over the years, it is not a good thing to plant too early. It may even bring bad things. Let's talk briefly with farmers!

Sowing too early may result in rotten seeds and low germination rate

Farmers in Northeast China usually use a mixture of the three old fertilizers. The advantage of this type of fertilizer is that it can reduce costs. Since it is mixed by themselves, the chance of "fake fertilizer" appearing is relatively low.

However, the disadvantages are also very obvious, because some of the mixed fertilizers are heavy, such as potassium fertilizers, and some are light, which leads to uneven fertilizer application during sowing. When the seedlings emerge, we go to the field and see that some are tall and some are short, not very neat.

In addition, if we sow too early, the ground temperature is relatively low and does not reach the temperature for seed germination, and the seeds are kept in moist and low-temperature soil for a long time, it will also cause seed rot.

If you are not sure about the sowing time, we can observe that the soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm reaches above 10 ℃ for 5 consecutive days, then you can sow. Why is 5 days the standard? Because in climatology, 5 days is a season.

In addition, the soil in the Northeast is relatively sticky. If sowing is too early, even if the seedlings can germinate, they will be relatively thin and weak. The seedlings will also be relatively weak, and they will be prone to lodging in the later stage, which will affect the final yield.

If corn is planted too early, the pollination and filling periods will coincide with the hot and rainy season. Long-term exposure to high temperatures will cause incomplete corn annuli or asynchrony between male and female corns, which will lead to unsuccessful pollination, baldness, and broken grains.

Or it may cause the female ear to bloom late, resulting in a failure of normal pollination, which will stimulate the growth of female ears in the leaf axils below. However, by the time it grows out, the male ear has already bloomed, and pollination cannot be completed.

It is recommended that farmers spray brassinolide or S-inducing agent + potassium dihydrogen phosphate to enhance the high temperature resistance of corn plants.

If conditions permit, families can also spray boron and zinc together to make it easier for the flower organs to fully develop in adverse environments, avoid deformed or missing corn ears, and avoid yield reduction.

2. Spring corn planting time in various regions

The suitable range of corn planting in our country is very wide. I will briefly introduce a few of them for your reference!

Generally speaking, the sowing time for spring corn is around the Grain Rain solar term. As mentioned earlier, in the Northeast region, it is usually from late April to early May.

The planting of spring corn in the Huanghuaihai region is almost the same as that in the Northeast, also from late April to early May.

In Shandong area, spring corn is usually planted in early April; in the Yangtze River Basin, spring corn is planted in late March or early April.

The planting time of spring corn in Hebei is from late April to early May.

The sowing time for spring corn in Anhui is before mid-April.

The sowing time for spring corn in Hunan is in early to mid-April.

Of course, the sowing time in the above-mentioned areas are all in normal years. The specific sowing time depends on the local temperature conditions. It cannot be applied blindly and is only used as a reference!