Corn maze facts for kids
A corn maze (also called a maize maze in places like the UK) is a giant puzzle made from a field of corn. Imagine walking through tall corn stalks, trying to find your way from a start point to an end point!
People think the first big corn maze was made in Annville, Pennsylvania, in 1993. But some similar mazes were talked about even earlier, in the 1980s. Today, corn mazes are very popular tourist attractions, especially in North America. They help farms earn money by inviting visitors.
Many mazes have cool designs, like characters from movies or special themes. Some even tell a story as you walk through them! Most mazes have a main path that leads you through the whole design. It might end in the middle or bring you back out again. There are also false paths that can trick you.
In the UK, these mazes are called maize mazes and are popular on farms in eastern England. Farms often combine mazes with other fun activities for families. These can include hay rides, a petting zoo, play areas for children, and picnic spots. Each year, some of these mazes even get featured in national newspapers and on TV!
In the U.S., corn mazes are usually cut down around the first week of November. In the UK, this happens in September, after kids go back to school.
As of 2014, the biggest corn maze ever recorded by Guinness World Records was about 60 acres (that's like 45 football fields!). It was made by Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California.
How Are Corn Mazes Made?
Farmers need to plan very carefully to create a corn maze. They think about how to grow the corn, design the maze, and let people know about it.
Here are some important steps:
- Choosing the right corn: Farmers pick a special type of corn. They need corn with strong stalks that grow tall. This helps the maze paths stay clear and tall.
- Keeping corn healthy: Farmers watch out for plant diseases like "stalk rot." This can happen if the corn doesn't get the right food or enough water.
- Planting the right amount: It's best to plant about 20,000 corn plants per acre. If too many plants are grown too close, they can get crowded.
- Using less fertilizer: Unlike corn grown for food, maze corn doesn't need a lot of nitrogen fertilizer. Too much can make the stalks weak.
- Planting time: In the northern part of the world, corn for mazes is planted in mid to late May. This is a few weeks later than corn grown for eating.
- Cutting the paths: When it's time to make the maze paths, farmers cut the center of the corn stalk. This stops the corn from growing back in the paths. They might use special machines like roto-tillers, mowers, or even special plant sprays (called herbicides) to clear the walkways.
