Corn Picking / Packing
In Australia, sweet corn is dominant in Victoria and its main producers are the river valleys of East Gippsland and Koo-wee-rup. The difference between maize and a sweet corn is their sugar content , wherein a sweet corn’s sugar does not convert to starch unlike the maize. The corn crop thrives in warmer weather conditions and farmers may have to wait until the frost season is over to start planting this type of crop. In Southern Victoria, a corn crop needs at least 80 days to 120 days to fully grow and mature. A lighted and warm temperature can lead to excellent germination and for a full plant to yield excellent crop, the temperature should be 24 to 30 degree Celsius.
Sweet corns have various kinds, but in Australia, they are classified to two options only, the Normal kind and the Supersweet corn. The Supersweet corn is what you commonly see in markets where they are sold fresh. They are relatively smaller than the Normal corns for a reason, to concentrate the sugar level to a small size and make it a Supersweet corn. A Supersweet corn can either be white or yellow in color, regardless of their appearance, they provide the same sugar content.
Some of the varieties that are popular in the Supersweetcorn category include Gladiator, Punchline, Matador and Sovereign, whereas the bi-color variety include Golden Pearl, Samurai and Madonna. The stage of rapid growth, pollination and silking is the crop’s three important stages that lead to a good yield. Sweet corns enjoy healthy soil with enough organic matter and mulch. Avoid planting them in watery spots to prevent rotting. Natural fertilizers are recommended instead of adding chemical base to reduce the risk of disease and poisoning. Germinated seeds that are ready for planting should be the same in height and size.
While the crop is not fitting for waterlog areas, irrigation is a must in order to produce a good yield. If you notice extreme leaf rolling, the crop needs more water, this is also the stage wherein the crop begins to be compromised. Be very observant and allow regular and monitored irrigation to keep the crop from withering or stressed out. In Victoria, Australia, sweet corns are largely free of pests and diseases. However, in situations wherein the presence of pests occurs, corn earthworms or heliothis caterpillar dominates the crops.
Harvesting large production of sweet corns can either be performed by bare hands or machines. Remember to harvest at the right time to avoid the crop from over maturing. An over matured corn can readily turn into starch and is not recommended for consuming because of its toughness. The milk stage is perfect for the harvest and can stand at least a week of freshness. Cooling harvested corns by way of forced air cooling or hydro-cooling will eliminate the heat from the field and get them ready for packing. The yield on a sweet corn is one cob for every plant, but in some cases where production stage was excellent, the yield can provide three cobs per plant.
