Maize can be precultivated indoors which considerably increases the yield. Otherwise, simply sow from mid-April directly outdoors. The seeds should be planted about 2-3 cm deep and the distance between the individual corn stalks should be around 45 cm. When sown in 'blocks', plants thrive better than in single unprotected rows. Hint: why not try intercropping with beans, according to Indian tradition? The corn serves as a climbing aid for stalk beans and these, in turn, accumulate nitrogen in the soil. In order to harvest your own seed, select the earliest and most beautiful cobs and harvest these as late as possible. Also, keep in mind that the wind carries maize pollen for almost a mile, so if you live close to a cornfield, there's a real danger that your Golden Bantam hybridizes with genetically modified maize!
On the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (www.bvl.bund.de) you will find a location registry with all areas where genetically modified plants are grown. Also, visit the website of the
Aktion Bantam Mais with further information about the topic.
