It was just a whim. It was early Saturday morning and I was trying to get to the community garden on time — sounds like a silly idea now, probably don’t need to be too precise, not like anyone was waiting for me (although I’m sure the weeds were busy growing). I stopped off to buy a few pepper plants and I was about a half cup low on coffee, so not up to my usual questionable level of mental capacity. I’m someone who can never pass a seed rack so I stopped at one for a quick peruse. There they were, a nice big pack of heirloom variety seed corn and it just seemed like a fun thing to try. I had no serious expectations about production but thought that even if the plants got to a decent size it would be fun to show the local kids.
I planted six kernels, three each on opposite ends of my plot and they all came up. These plants produced eight ears of the sweetest, juiciest, most delicious corn that I had eaten in years. It was so good that I could have just pulled it off the stalks and eaten it uncooked right on the spot. Of course, it probably wouldn’t have turned out as well if it was all part of some big master gardening plan…but being the stubborn gardener I am, it’s not going to stop me from giving it another try this year.
So this year I’m renting an extra 4’x8′ plot just for planting corn. Last time I planted in early March and harvested in mid June and plan to stick with the same schedule this year. As usual, I’ll try not to get over confident — but I’m hopeful. Stay tuned.
My few stalks of corn did surprisingly well in the community garden last year.
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Lucky you! My corn was horrible this year. I’m not sure I will bother with it this year, but then again, I often change my mind about this sort of thing.
You’re so right. I’m willing to put it all down to good luck. I had no idea what I was doing. I know now that pollination requires a little more attention than some other plants.
It was very wet here this summer, which made pollination difficult. Did you know that each kernel is connected to one of those silky strands and is pollinated individually? I didn’t know that until this year. If it’s a dry summer, pollination is not that difficult. The wind will take care of it. I’m not sure there is anything you can do to help it in along in wet weather.
I also just learned the fascinating fact about the kernal/silk connection – after all those years of shucking, cooking and eating corn! I’ll be planting early again this year and hope to harvest in June. I hate using all the water it can take to keep things alive here in the summer (but the corn would probably be okay, it’s just fun to grow it early). I try to grow very drought tolerant plants in the summer. It was 81degrees here today! And it may freeze Saturday night. Check out my post on the weather roller coaster we had last March.
That’s a fantastic photo of the corn! Lovely sunlight on the limes and yellows. Love the neighbourhood photography idea.
Hopefully this year I’ll have more than just a few ears to share – it tasted much better than it looked.