Sweet corn cultivation in Hungary: the heat is a problem

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 26. 12:10

Sweet corn is currently grown on 24,000-25,000 hectares in Hungary, 90 percent of which is irrigated. However, due to the hot weather of the past few days, the harvest is expected to fall short of last year’s record level, Tamás Pásztor, board member of the Tímári Tsemege Szövetkezet, told InfoRádio.

Crop prospects and irrigation

The earliest, unirrigated sowings yielded a below-average yield, but from the beginning of July to mid-October, in the main season, the yield averages already improve in the case of the more resistant, irrigated varieties. According to the specialist, they hope that at least an average harvest will be achieved, but last year’s record will probably not be repeated.

Effect of weather on the crop

Tamás Pásztor said that the long-lasting heat wave of 35-40 degrees experienced last week caused an atmospheric drought that even irrigation could not fully compensate for. Such extremes of temperature and UV exposure take their toll even on irrigated plants. Cooler weather and regular rainfall are an unbeatable combination that cannot be fully replaced artificially.

Yield and processing

On average, 17-18 tons of sweet corn are harvested per hectare, so you can harvest up to 450,000 tons on the average production area of 27,000 hectares. 90-95 percent of the produce is processed by the food industry, mainly in frozen or canned form. In Hungary, customers receive almost entirely domestic sweet corn, but most of the crop is exported.