This corn is so fun to grow! In fact, it’s so fun that I’m having a hard time leaving it on the stalk to dry. Once it’s dry, it isn’t going to be as vibrant and pretty as it is now so I want to open all the ears and look at them and see what colors I have out there. This morning while out working in the garden, I couldn’t stand it . . I had to grab another one and look at it.
Glass Gem Corn
Not all the ears are perfect. This one had a spot that didn’t mature so well but most all home grown corn that hasn’t been treated with chemicals/fertilizers will have some amount of imperfection. Not much, including the gardener, is perfect around here.
Glass Gem Corn
I sent Vince the picture and I said “We Grew This!” It’s so amazing . . to me it seems amazing.
I’ll plant more next year. I just wanted to see how well it did before giving up too much space in the garden and I think it did well enough that I’ll plant more. It’s pretty easy to grow . . didn’t require much attention. The hardest part for me has been to leave it alone. I want to peek in at every ear!
One it’s dry, I will shuck it and the whole cob can be stuck in the microwave to make popcorn. I’ve read that it’s only average as popcorn but it would be fun to try it that way, especially if there are kids around. It does lose its color and the popcorn is all white.
I will probably use it mostly for cornmeal or grits. There are plenty of other field/dent corns that would probably grow better and be more productive than is Glass Gem but none of them would be as fun or exciting to grow and at this point in my life, I’m going for fun and exciting!
wanda j says
That is just beautiful. I buy corn like this in the fall for decoration but didn’t know we could grow it. Where did you get the start of it. Or should I say where did you order it form? Just love it so pretty.
Now on the subject of drying. I dry my garlic in panty hose. I put one bulb in tie a knot then put anther one. Let dry out in the sun for a week or two then bring in garage to stay dry over the winter.
The one you showed us looks like elephant garlic to me. I got mine from my mom who got hers orginally from her mom. So it has now been passed to my daughter. So 4 generations have grown it. I passed on to teachers this year too. It gets about the size of a grapefruit for me. I harvest some and leave some like I do with regular garlic. But now that I’ve been reading your post. I’m going to harvest and roast some .
Judy Laquidara says
Glass Gem corn can be ordered here: http://shop.nativeseeds.org/products/ts363
Normally, they advise you to dry garlic (most anything) in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Elephant garlic is not a true garlic but is actually more of a leek/onion. The garlic I grew this year was Siciliano and Inchelium Red. Both make big bulbs with big, sweetish cloves. I never leave mine in the ground because it grows in such big clumps. I do save my seeds from year to year but always end up ordering new varieties.
I have garlic from my grandma too but hers makes tiny little cloves and they aren’t easy to peel so I rarely plant it but I do keep the seeds.
Connie says
That corn is beautiful. It reminds me of corn my mother used to buy around Thanksgiving for decoration. I won’t mention how many years ago that was.
Sending good, healthy thoughts your way
swooze says
Did you plant loofah this year?
JudyL says
I did not. I’ll plant it next year. It needs to be started in the greenhouse before it can be planted outside and I just never did it this year. The grasshoppers ate most of it last year and I didn’t have a ton of seeds so I was halfway afraid of losing everything if I planted it and the grasshoppers ate it. I’ve shared seeds with enough folks that I should be able to get some back if I need them and I’ll go ahead and plant it next spring.
Janet says
Hi Judy,
The corn is very pretty to look at. Can it be steamed and eaten like regular corn? I think I’d want to see if all the colors tasted differently. Plain ‘ole boring white popcorn doesn’t seem exciting!
Janet
JudyL says
It’s dent corn so I’m not sure you would want to steam it and eat it but yes, it could be done.
Elaine says
Here in NJ we call it Indian corn and use it to decorate for Thanksgiving, yours is pretty.