Green mealies, a staple in many cuisines around Mzansi, are a treat that’s even sweeter when homegrown Getting to enjoy the fruits of your labour in the form of juicy corn, freshly picked from your own garden can be a delicious and rewarding experience.
Farming in Richmond, Kwazulu-Natal, green mealie farmer Thanda Mbeje states that green mealies are a relatively easy crop to grow, requiring minimal equipment and maintenance, making them a great choice for beginners or experienced gardeners alike.
“I have been growing mealies for five years. Green mealies can be planted in any season, and the best part is that there is no need to buy seeds because you can take seeds from your mealies to produce more.
“It’s also a very good business because almost everyone loves mealies, so it is easy to sell. You can even produce your own maize meal for use and for sale,” she shares.
“I advise people never to undermine agricultural products like green mealies. Anything that brings food to your table legally, go for it.”
Farmer Thanda Mbeje
Choosing the right varieties and seeds
Inspired by the street vendors who bring joy and flavour to communities through green mealies, the owner of Umlingo Agri Projects, Thandeka Mnyeni, set out on a journey to cultivate her own mealies.
“As Umlingo Agri Projects, we were inspired to start growing green mealies by local street vendors who travelled long distances to stock the produce. The lesson we have learned is that not all maize varieties can tolerate drought. As a result, you need to choose seeds that match your area or capabilities.”
“Our advice to new growers is to please make sure you find a market first before you start planting maize.”
Dikgang Molebatsi, who is an agronomist and crop scientist from North West, explains that green mealies have more nutritional value as compared to other types of corn since green mealies or sweet corn are not processed.
“Green mealies can be used or prepared in various ways. It can either be boiled or grilled, as often seen on the township roads and South African local taxi ranks and is a staple in most households. It also serves as a source of income for many households,” he says.
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Grow your own
“Other types of corn are often milled, and it is that milling process that affects their nutritional content and value because the milling process removes most of the gem and fibre, which are primarily nutrient-rich parts of the grain.”
According to Molebatsi, the ideal growing conditions for green mealies include fertile and well-drained soils with an optimum pH of 5.2 to 5.8.
“The temperature requirements for maize range between 25 and 33 degrees on the Celsius scale. This makes green mealies more adaptable to grow optimally in hot summer months than in cooler months. As a result, green mealies can be expected to be at their optimum peak or performance in the summer rather than in other seasons of the year.”
“Depending on the local climate, green mealie varieties can be grown in both the summer and winter. This is seen in regions such as, but not limited to, KwaZulu-Natal. It is much more likely if the temperature and soil moisture conditions remain adequate.”
Mealies need lots of water
He adds that green mealies require high levels of moisture and thus pose high water requirements and may not thrive well if grown in regions characterised by drought. As a result, during the peak times of the crop, enough water supply will have to be available to ensure optimal growth.
“Regions with soils that have low organic content can be challenging for the growth and development of the crop, as organic content plays a major role in crop nutrition and soil health.”
Agronomist Dikgang Molebatsi
“If there is a poorly integrated pest management programme during the growth and development of the crop, pests such as stalk borers and American bollworms can lead to a significant reduction in the yield of the crop, as these pests can significantly damage the sweet corn plants. Diseases such as leaf streaks and rust can lead to losses in the crop or reduced yields. Proper IPM programming will then have to be put in place.”
Given that green mealie may not do well, particularly in some regions of South Africa, Molebatsi advises farmers to employ drought-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties to maintain production levels of the crop.
Additionally, there will be a need for investing in technology, allowing farmers to adopt more farming methods, which include but are not limited to precision agriculture, to increase yield and reduce costs.
ALSO READ: Umbila: Mzansi makes magic with green mealies
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