November 18, 2025
Choosing the Right Maize Varieties and Agronomy for 2026
As growers plan for the next maize season, understanding how agronomy and variety choice interact is key to achieving a reliable, high-performing crop. Simon Montgomery, ProCam Technical Lead for Field Options Performance Seeds, highlights the factors growers should consider to get the best from their maize.
Early drilling and soil conditions
Simon agrees that drilling early is generally beneficial, provided soil conditions are suitable.
“Soil temperature for planting should ideally be around 10°C,” he explains. “Some suggest 8°C, but if the weather turns cold, it can quickly drop to 6 or 7°C, which risks cold shock for young seedlings.”
He advises working closely with your agronomist to match the crop to your specific field conditions, taking into account heat units, rainfall, altitude, wind exposure, soil type, fertility, and appropriate seed rates.
“Very fertile soils and windy locations can make susceptible varieties more prone to lodging, while continuous maize can increase disease pressures such as fusarium and smut. The descriptive variety list is a useful guide for these considerations.”
What to look for in a variety
When choosing maize varieties, Simon stresses that crop height isn’t the only measure of performance. Other factors include:
- Starch and energy content
- Cell wall digestibility
- Green leaf retention at harvest
- Disease and lodging resistance
- Rooting habit (bigger roots improve drought tolerance and stability)
- Genetic stability and resilience
“A variety that promises very high yields under ideal conditions may underperform if conditions aren’t perfect. Sometimes a slightly lower-yielding variety with consistent performance across seasons is a safer bet for harvest success,” Simon notes.
Recommended varieties
Simon highlights 4 reliable options for growers:
- Jardinero – an early-maturing variety with strong yields, excellent cold vigour, and longer green leaf retention. Ideal for lighter or less fertile soils but needs careful management on very fertile land.
- Sunset – a new early maturing variety with excellent yield, high starch, cell wall digestibility and excellent disease resistance. Ideal for all soil types.
- Rodriguez – a dependable variety that resists lodging well, suitable for forage or grain, and adaptable from the Welsh mountains to East Anglia’s flatlands.
- Marcopolo – a versatile variety with large grains, stiff stems, and rapid grain dry down while staying green. Works across most soil types except the very heaviest.
“Choosing the right variety isn’t just about yield – it’s about finding the crop that best suits your farm’s conditions and delivers consistency year after year,” Simon concludes.
Planning your maize 2026 crop?
Get tailored advice on variety choice, drilling timing, and crop management from your local ProCam agronomist. We’ll help you select maize that performs reliably, maximises yield, and suits your farm’s conditions.
