Corn - Popcorn Strawberry [Zea mays]

The annual popcorn 'Strawberry Corn' is a medium-early edible rarity with sweet, red-colored kernels. Has a strong flavor of its own. Ideal for colored popcorn. The cobs are smaller than other varieties. Ideal for direct sowing, no pot cultivation, sowing in spring-summer, good for mixed cultivation, harvesting the seeds.

 Description 
The popcorn 'strawberry corn' is an annual edible rarity from the USA. Popcorn was cultivated at least 4,000 years ago and has been propagated ever since. This exotic variety is ideal for popcorn or for decoration. The plants reach a height of 1.60 m and the cobs are also smaller than other types of corn, so they are reminiscent of giant strawberries. The anthocyanin pigments give the corn its red color and retain this color even after heating, creating a special red popcorn. The taste is sweet and has a strong aroma of its own that tastes great even on its own. Also ideal for grilling.

 General information 
Plant family: Poaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 120 days
Plant height approx.: 160 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to 3°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, profound, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 5.5 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 2-3 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 15-25 °C
Germination time: 7-12 days
Plant and row spacing: 30x50 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 5-6 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Beans, Peas, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Phacelia, Spinach
Unfavorable mixed culture: Beetroot, Celery

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing from February to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be located in a sunny spot and protected from the wind.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from April to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be located in a sunny spot and protected from the wind.

 General recommendations 
Due to the simple and uncomplicated germination, direct sowing in rows is recommended. Due to the short shelf life of the seeds, sowing can be done very closely together and later thinned out according to the specified plant spacing.
Popcorn 'Strawberry Corn' prefers a permeable, deep, nutrient-rich, moist and humus-rich loamy soil. Doesn't tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Sow corn in blocks at the specified distance so that the wind-pollinated plants can pollinate each other better. The plants thrive better in wind-protected areas than in unprotected areas. For optimal plant growth, soil loosening to a depth of at least 40 cm is required. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, it is recommended to also incorporate biochar and rock flour.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Corn plants can survive for a few days without water, although they should not dry out too much. During long periods of heat, additional watering is advisable. Depending on the condition of the soil, fertilization is recommended after 10 weeks.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Zea mays
English names: Corn
German names: Mais
Portuguese names: Milho
Spanish names: Maíz
French names: Maïs

 Origin 
Country: Portugal