The last thing I need to do before going to bed is read something that gets me all fired up and I start thinking about everything and then I don’t want to go to sleep. About 1:30 a.m., I was so tempted to grab my flashlight last night, go out into the garden, strip open an underdeveloped ear of corn and see what was happening . . but I didn’t.
Back in 2012, Glass Gem corn became a very hot topic among gardening blogs and websites. The seeds were impossible to find and when I could find them, they were outrageously priced and it was too late in the season to plant them so I kinda forgot about it. What good judgment I have . . sometimes rarely! Then last year, my friend, Amy, got her hands on a few seeds and shared the seeds she didn’t use with me. When I got the seeds, it was a bit late for planting here, not because of the season but because the grasshoppers were already out in full force. I planted a few seeds but saved a few for this year. Sure enough, the grasshoppers chomped off the ones I planted last year but this year . . I have lots of corn, though it isn’t ready yet.
Corn
Notice the kale down in the shadow of the corn? Have I said lately how much I love my garden?
My corn isn’t ready yet but most stalks have three ears while a few have two ears.
Corn
I’m watching it closely, hoping bugs, especially the grasshoppers, don’t attack before the ears are mature.
It’s a dent corn (not sweet corn) and not the type corn you would eat for dinner but more the type you would use for cornmeal, grits or popcorn.
Instead of trying to recap the story of how this beautiful corn came to be, if you’re interested in the whole story, you can read more here. This truly is a story of beauty, history and hope, and I hope you will read and enjoy the story. It makes me smile to think about Mr. Barnes and his dedication to developing this beautiful corn and it makes me very happy that his student, Mr. Schoen, saw fit to preserve Mr. Barnes’ work, and now so many of us are enjoying the fruit of their labor.
Here are some great photos of the mature corn I came across last night.
- Everything Sewing from 2013
- Amusing Plant (lots of photos here)
Whether or not Glass Gem corn is a high producing crop, it’s fun to grow and I can only imagine how fun it would be for kids to grow and share.
Laura says
Almost too pretty to eat!
Donna says
Since you like to try different things have you ever seen purple green beans? I saw them today for the first time at Farmer’s Market. He said they turn green when they’re cooked. At first I thought they were purple hull peas since they were really dark purple. I wonder how they taste. He didn’t have but very few left so I didn’t get any. Wouldn’t have been enough for a meal for my bunch.
Dianne S. says
Donna,
We are growing the purple green beans and they do turn green when cooked. They are very tasty too.
Sheddy says
I can’t wait to see yours. It looks beautiful!
Dar in MO says
Oooh I sure hope your corn crop comes through and the critters don’t get it. Can’t wait to see what colors your ears are. Were all your seeds different colors that you planted. If you ground the corn into flour, will it look gray or blue if the kernels are a mixture of many colors? The story was so enlightening and wonderful. Makes me want to find some of this corn for sure.
Dianne S. says
Hmm… I’m anxious to see how these turn out for you. I want to find these seeds now!
myrna sossner says
I am imagining how colorful the pop corn must be made with this corn!