Plant families

Ok we all know cabbages are a brassica, but I cannot find a plant family for sweetcorn, where does that fit in?

I'm updating my database and adding in sweetcorn (should have been added last year) and want to know what family to treat it as...mainly for crop rotation, can anyone help?

Steve...

 

Hi Steve,

Graminacea I would guess.

 

So essentially it does not have to go in with crop rotation, but wherever there is a space..but dont grow in the same place two years running to avoid any pest build up. Would that sum it up? (Scratches head)

Steve...

 

I rotate mine, but I don't think there are Bugs that you need to worry about particularly. They are greedy feeders, so you'll need to get some goodness into the soil if you are mono-cropping.

For info: I have two rotations. 4 beds for the main rotations, and then a second area with 8 beds which rotates Strawberries (slowly!), 2 x Spuds, Sweetcorn, an extra bed of Brassicas overspill from the main area, Sweet peas, Gladioli and then any other odds-and-sods

In addition I have two mono-culture beds for Courgettes and Squash.

 

Yep, just a bloomin big grass really. I've seen it farmed year after year in the same field, of course they pump it full of chemicals.

Rather than worrying about fitting it in with a rotation, choose the sunniest location as sweet corn can use the sun thruout the day.

I read a sci fi book when I was a kid called "Death of Grass" Cant remember much about it other than a virus wiped out all the worlds grass, no wheat, barley, rice, maize & no grazing. Probably didn't have a happy ending.

 

Try this from wipedia!

Looks complicated but!

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Tribe: Andropogoneae
Genus: Zea
Species: Z. mays
Binomial name
Zea mays
L.

 

Blimey,

I wish they'd tell me if they are going to change the name of an entire family:DOH:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaceae

The'll probably change Rosacea to Tinkywinkycea

And Umbelliferae to Dipsyferae if the pattern continues.

 

Brasicas are now listed thus Brassicaceae(Cruciferae)

Maybe they should have it thus Brassicaceae(Cruciferae - Please tell Zig)

Steve...

 

Thats how it should be

If "they" are listening, don't think i've forgotten about the bluebells yet