Black Maize seed

LATIN NAME: ZEA MAYS

COMMON NAME: Black Maize

The black maize inks the tall, sturdy stalks with the broad, arching leaves and the dark, purple-black cobs that ripen through the late summer, the whole crop carrying the bold, striking look of the coloured corns. The kernels wear the deep, wine-dark skins, and they hold the sweet, nutty flavour and the notable colour. The plants grow tall and strong, and the cobs ripen through the warm months. It likes the sun, and the deep, rich, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The pigmented corns have kept the food chemists busy for the anthocyanin compounds in the dark kernels, and the black maize appears in the studies of the speciality grain crops. The research covers the kernel chemistry, the way the cobs set and the nutrition of the grain, while the agronomists track the yields in the warm regions. The food scientists value the dark, pigmented grain, and the growers of the speciality crops keep the variety in their lists.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the warm garden, the black maize feeds the table with the colour. The dark kernels have been boiled, roasted and ground for the ages, serving the polenta, the tortillas and the porridge, and the bold colour carries into the dishes. The tall stalks give the garden the leafy structure, and the crop does best in the deep, rich, sunny ground. Dark, bold and useful.

The black maize seeds germinate readily in a sandy, loamy mix kept warm and moist. The seedlings appear within a couple of weeks, and they grow on fast with the broad leaves. Plant them out into the deep, rich, sunny ground once the frosts are past, and give them the full sun. They grow best with the generous feeding and the even moisture, and the dark cobs come through the late summer.

To grow the black maize from seed, sow the plump, yellow seeds singly into the shallow tray of sandy, loamy mix, then cover them well, keep the tray in the warm, bright spot and water gently. The seedlings thread up within a couple of weeks, and they grow on fast. Stand the young plants in the deep, rich, well-drained ground, and the dark cobs will ink the late summer over the years.

Black Maize Zea mays Corn