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Corn
- A Description of Corn
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History: Native to the Americas, corn was one of the "Three Sisters", planted with squash and beans by First Nations people in one of the first companion-plantings. Originally a grain-like plant with tiny heads, it was developed by natural selection over thousands of years to produce the size of ears we are familiar with today. Cultivation: Direct sow seed 1/2 to 1" deep, after the soil has warmed. Sow 5-6 seeds per foot, in rows 30-40" apart. A minimum of 4 rows side by side are needed for best pollination. Companions: beans encourage growth; squash suppresses weeds; peas add nitrogen to the soil.
- Bloody Butcher Corn
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Fresh-eating; Grinding; Decorating; Sustainably Grown
This is a very old dent corn, grown since at least 1845. Very tall (10-12'), sturdy stalks produce 12" cobs that are a beautiful dark red (hence the name). A later season corn, it needs 100-120 days to mature, but it is very drought-tolerant. The cobs are excellent for fall decorations, but they can also be eaten fresh when young or making red-flecked cornbread. Very rare.
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
- Broom Corn, Mixed Colours
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Sorghum Vulgare; Certified Organic
(Sorghum vulgare) (105 days) Not actually corn, but a type of sorghum (a grain), this is the crop used to make "corn brooms" centuries ago. I'm offering a mix of a number of heirloom varieties that grow in shades of gold, bronze, brown, black, burgundy and cream. The colour deepens as the seed-heads mature. Grow your own corn broom or use the stalks for dried arrangements!
- Country Gentleman Sweet Corn
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Fresh-eating; Certified Organic
(80-100 days) Growing to 8', this old variety of sweet corn was very popular in the late 1800's. It gives good yields of very sweet and tender 6-8" cobs. It was also known as 'Shoe Peg', because its kernels are small and densely packed on the cob, not in rows. I believe that's because they look like they needed a shoe-peg to cram them in.
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
- Dakota Black Popcorn
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Ornamental; Popping; Sustainably-Grown
NEW FOR 2013! (95-105 days) This beautiful, open-pollinated corn was bred by Prairie Road Organic Farm in North Dakota. The mature ears are stunning and highly ornamental, with kernels that are a deep reddish-black. It makes a delicious white popcorn with black hull. Growing to 6', it produces one ear per stalk. Let dry completely in the field and then dry further indoors for maximum popping.
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
- Double Standard Sweet Corn
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Sweet Corn; Certified Organic
(73 days) This is an early maturing, open-pollinated sweet corn whose kernels are a mixture of yellow and white. Developed by Johnny's Seeds from two old heirloom varieties known for their sweetness and earliness, this beautiful corn grows to 5' and averages ears of 7" with 12-14 rows of yellow & white kernels (some will have yellow kernels only). Germinates well in cool soil. Finally - a bi-coloured sweet corn with that old-fashioned taste!
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
- Japonica Striped Maize Corn
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Decorative; Certified Organic
1890's. This is a breathtakingly-beautiful ornamental corn originally from Japan. A rainbow of colours, it sports variegated leaves striped with green, white, yellow and pink; dark purple tassels and burgundy kernels. Grow a rainbow! Colours develop better when widely spaced.
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
- Mandan Bride corn
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Grinding; Certified Organic
(85-90 days) One of the best-tasting and most ornamental flour corns around! Mandan Bride bears soft, multi-coloured ears that have kernels that are various beautiful combinations of purple, red, yellow, white and variegated. The ears grow to 8" and the stalks to 6'. An old heirloom from the Mandan First Nations people of North Dakota. Tolerates heat and humidity well and ripens well in short-season areas. This one will do well in markets.
U.S. CustomersRestrictions Apply
