corn

[rockriver]

trying a new veggie.
i love cornbread..
trying to figure out how to get cornbread from the garden to the table.
step 1. plant corn
and folks i don't know how!
So inviting you to comment, explain, instruct, suggest, fuss, laugh, etc..

here's what we did.
ground was damp as it has been raining the last few days.
ground was soft, because i tilled it up 2 weeks ago.
seed packet said plant a seed every 4 inches and thin to one plant every 12 inches.
i dug a small hole every 6 inches, with a hoe and placed a small amount of 10-10-10 in the hole
maybe 10 to 12 granules of fert.
covered the fert with about a inch of dirt, then planted the seed on top which was covered with about an inch of loose dirt.
lightly watered the area.
asked the Lord to bless our efforts.
-
for now i especially would appreciate comments, suggestions on how i could do better next year. (and i might add another row or so this year!! )
--
also. what do you do in order to get cornbread once i end up with some ears of corn? thinking optimistically!
rr

[goatlady]

First of all did you plant flour corn? Did you plant a variety that is known to do well in your geographic area? I just use the handle end of the hoe to make a trench line in the dirt then just drop the corn seed in that trench at appropriate spacing to begin with - I absolutely HATE to pull a growing plant that has value so I plant at the spacing the mature plant will need, go back down the row and cover, and tamp the covering dirt down a bit so the seed is in complete contact with dirt with no air space. Corn does best with side dressings of fertilizer as it's growing as it is a heavy feeder requiring lots of nutrients, especially when forming tassels and ears. Also regular watering. It must be kept weed free as those weeds use the nutrients faster than the corn can. At ear maturity, for making cornbread/flour, one usually lets the ears completely dry on the stalk (if you can keep the coons away from it long enough!). Once it totally dry you need to get all those kernels off the cobs and then have a way to grind them into flour. Corn produces best when planted in blocks which ensures good pollination as they depend on the wind for that action and just having a few long rows will not produce the best results especially if the wind is blowing crosswise to those rows during pollination time.

[Climber]

I plant about 3# of corn every year. If you use the field corn variaties , shoepeg, pencil cob etc, you can make cornmeal/flour just fine. Plus you will be using heirloom types and can save seed. Look in your grocery store, thru the cornmeal area, bet there will be an old school grinder and his/her product on the shelf. Check for a ph # and see if they are local. They might grind your corn for you.

Good luck and have fun!

Jimmy

[rockriver]

climber, goatlady,
thanks.
i need to check seed pack.
we planted a yellow and a white, but didn't notice the names.
we planted straight line!!
==
i had same feeling about pulling up plants.
i didn't "tamp" the dirt. will do that. thanks
learning..
thanks again.

[goatlady]

Even if you planted regular sweet corn, you can let it dry on the stalk and grind it, it just may be different that what you are expecting. Also when your corn starts putting up the pollen stalks at the top, when it's ready to "fall", go down the row and by hand give each stalk a gentle shake or 2 so the pollen will be sure to fall into the space between the leaf and the stalk - where the ear will grow. That will help ensure a pretty good ear growth.

[Climber]

Let me share one more thing with you too.

When you want to eat some of that sweet corn fresh, do this. The sugars will set and turn to starch within 3-4 hours of picking it. If you are going to eat it say that evening, have the water boiling before you pick. Pick it, shuck it, clean it as fast as you can and then boil it about 4-6 minutes. There is nothing better, I'm telling ya! I eat half mine in the field. I come in a sticky mess....(<:

Jimmy

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Let me share one more thing with you too.When you want to eat some of that sweet corn fresh, do this. The sugars will set and turn to starch within 3-4 hours of picking it. If you are going to eat it say that evening, have the water boiling before you pick. Pick it, shuck it, clean it as fast as you can and then boil it about 4-6 minutes. There is nothing better, I'm telling ya! I eat half mine in the field. I come in a sticky mess....(<: Jimmy

Ditto, sweet corn straight from the stalk, oohhh man, cha-ching!!

[kappydell]

If you planted field corn, frankly, when it comes to cornmeal, I use dent corn as it is most common and grows well in my area. Flint corn is a trifle easier to grind, and flour corn grinds down finer, but all will cook up well. Cornmeal made with sour milk or butter milk and soda works better than that made with baking powder; less crumbly. You can also make your own hominy easily from that field corn if you like it. If you need recipes I have a boatload and then some!

Sweet corn can also be ground, makes a sweeter cornmeal. Sweet corn also makes superior parched corn (at least to my taste buds) and dehydrates very well for storage. It rehydrateds with good results and is an excellent way to introduce people to dehydrated veggies.

[BioG8r]

I agree with Kappydell Dent will be the staple. Drying is the key, Slightly wet corn will cause a myriad of issues with grinding and storage. Sweet corn doesn't produce the poundage per acre but does make a very nice meal/flour. Using GM genetically modified or OP opened pollinated will also make a huge difference, depends on your personal doctrine.
Some averages to consider - Great Corn Ground can be coaxed to produce near 200 bushels to the acre with topline GM Seed and using BMP best management practices. I am happy with 100 bu/ac on our ground,, figuring 56lb shelled/bu.... 2 1/4 tons/acre is more than I need for family, 4 acres feeds all my beasties, family and still have some for throwing into a mash pot....
Sweet corn nets me about 60 bushels to the acre. Poor Soil and wider rows for hand picking, Also the skunks and coons seem to have their own high speed internet connection, when the corn comes in,,, so do they and all of their friends from miles around!

[PerryJeff]

I will have to try saving the dehdrated sweet corn Thanks. Always end up with lots that doesn't get picked at the right time and had always just feed to criters.