The Corn Harvest

"Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep

And you shall have corn to sell and to keep."

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

As you can see above, my corn stalks are cut. The ears have been eaten and enjoyed. And all that remains are good culinary memories.

Despite Benjamin Franklin's wise advice, I didn't sell any of my corn, and I even gave some of it away to friends. But after growing my own corn, I now understand all the fuss about how much better fresh-picked corn tastes when tossed immediately in the cooking pot or on the grill.



'Blue Jade' corn (70 to 80 days) is supposed to grow three feet tall, according to Seed Savers Exchange. That makes this variety one of the only sweet corns you can grow in containers and ideal for small gardens. But my plants easily grew four to five feet tall, and each supplied about two ears of brilliant blue corn. They probably would have supplied even more ears, but we had a late start to summer this year.

For best results, direct seed corn in full sun about 10 days to two weeks after the last frost date. Corn is a warm-season crop that likes rich, fertile soil with good drainage. Incidentally, this corn variety stays blue when cooked.

Learn more:
Advice for growing corn from Purdue University.
See some of garden writer Kylee Baumle's favorite corn varieties.

What are your favorite corn varieties? Any corn recipes you want to share? We're all ears. (Pun intended.)

Seed Sources

Looking for seeds? Here are just a few of my favorite seed sources:

• Seed Savers Exchange: This wonderful non-profit organization is preserving our culinary heritage by saving and sharing heirloom seeds from across the planet. More than 25,000 endangered plant varieties are maintained at Heritage Farm -- the organization's 890-acre headquarters near Decorah, Iowa. Their four-color catalogue is a feast for the eyes.

• Johnny's Selected Seeds: You'll find a wide array of the exciting heirlooms and hybrid seeds here. Lots of helpful growing information is featured in their catalog. Don't miss the garden tools developed by renowned Maine gardener Eliot Coleman.

• Kitchen Garden Seeds: Lovely illustrations and interesting plant descriptions fill this catalog. I'm sowing several seeds purchased from this well-known company.