Can I plant corn??

[jinman]

There is a reasonably good chance that I won't get a single ear but if I get a dozen ears that will come to $1.66 an ear. That's pretty 'fancy' math and that's pretty expensive corn.....but in the end, it will have been more fun than a night at the movies, much more educational and fresh corn on the cob just in time for the 4th will probably taste better than popcorn.

There is no argument from me on that, George. Two years ago I had some great looking corn and the critters got almost all of it. I decided right then that corn was not my best choice for the garden space. Even with the high production garden I had, I'm not sure I beat the economy of buying. My stuff surely did taste better though. As a matter of fact, I smile every time I open my freezer.

I am, however, really amazed at the stores offering corn for 10 cents per ear. I'm not sure I'd even pick corn for 10 cents per ear if I never had to grow it. Somebody, somewhere is getting very little for their labor when my grandson can get 70 ears for $5. But then again, my grandson is so proud of himself and pleased that he can help me with our 4th of July celebration that I can hardly put a price on that either. I'm gonna make sure I tell everyone how my hard working grandson is responsible for our delicious corn. I'm pretty darn proud of that 16-yr old kid.

 

[charlz]

The cheap corn might be a loss-leader.... they know while you are getting corn for your bbq you are also going to grab meat, paper plates, beverages etc.

 

[N80]

I know a couple of older guys at my church who love to garden, use their tractors, etc. They plant a huge garden, 'waste' tons of money on it and then give all the produce away to anyone who will take it. They enjoy the gardening, the tractoring and the giving.

I think its pretty cool. I'd like to be doing the same thing when I'm 80.

I cannot plant a regular garden. My 1 acre yard in the suburbs is mostly wooded and way too shady. My place in the country is 45 minutes away and the deer are too numerous.

I did notice an empty lot in my neighborhood that has been gardened in the past. I think the folks who own it live next door to it. There is a rusty old pto tiller sitting next to it. Its probably half an acre. I think the man who lived there and kept the garden died. I'm seriously thinking about asking his widow if I can put a garden in next year and give her and her family first dibs on the produce.

Of course I don't keep my tractor here.....so maybe I'll need another tractor.

 

[dmccarty]

This is the second year we tried to grow corn and we might get some. First year the garden soil was just not ready. We had to bring in about 50 yards of composted soil for the garden. The corn the first year grew only about 5 feet tall. The stuff this year is at least 6-7 feet tall. Its is Silver Queen.

We have been battling Japanese Beetles all season. I think last weekend we won. The kids and I have been going out every night with a cup that has water and soap to trap/kill the beatles. We also used insecticidal soap. The bugs were so bad on Saturday I sprayed a bit of Sevin. The cup/water/soap method has killed at least 1,000 beatles. Would not surprise me if we had killed 2,000. The last couple of nights there has only been a few beetles.

The beetles really went after the corn silk. Some ears that I thought would be gonners seem to be recovering. Others are getting really long and plump. Can't wait to try it.

We have had two meals of just fried Okra fresh from the garden. Yummy. Have a third Okra meal in the freezer ready to fry. Checking the Okra last night we have another batch ready.

Cukes. Lordy but we have Cukes. Brought a bag into work to give away. We tried some people we know to see if they wanted them but they have a garden and they can't give away theirs fast enough. Going to try to pickle some cukes and Okra over the holiday.

Basil, Cilantro, green onions are going good. Tomotoes are finally fruiting up. Just need to ripen. Beens. Oh my we are going to have beens. The Kentucky pole beans provided a feast for the beetles. I have a purple bean variety that is really purty and flowering. Another variety of climbng bean is growing up the corn stalks. Planted cantalope around the corn as well trying to do a three sisters variation. We are going to have more Cantalopes than we know what to do with. I bet I planted 3-4 times what we did last year and we had some volunteers start up as well.

We have spent a lot on the garden just on the soil. The drip irrigation hoses aint cheap but sure do work better than the sprinkler. Eventually the garden will pay for itself. We are going to make a bunch of Basil pesto this year and freeze it. Can't find a canning receipe. Just the pesto is a big savings compared to store bought. There is just nothing better than picking your own food in the garden, washing it off, and then eating it.

The corn we did get last year was very good. The cantalopes were the best I have ever had. Okra is just excellent. Beans, good. Tomatoes, well ya gots to grow your own.

Getting hungry for some reason....

Later,
Dan

 

[N80]

Success!

We went to my parents house on the river this afternoon (July 4th) for barbecue. My sister-in-law, who lives near where my corn is, brought 16 ears of my corn with her when she came up for the barbecue. The corn was great! She pulled some of it too soon, but even it was okay. She said there was lots still left and we're going down tomorrow for a couple of days so we'll see what we get then.

In any case, I'm thrilled. Seems silly to be excited about corn but its something I'd never done before and had low expectations of but still got good fresh corn right on time for our 4th of July family gathering. Doesn't get much better than that.

And, I pretty much followed the advice I got here so you guys were a big help.

Dan,sounds like you got a bounty. I'm very jealous. I sure wish I had somewhere to plant cukes and squash and maters and okra and lopes and all that. I love it all.

I may give okra a try next year down at the cabin. Not sure if the deer will wipe it out or not.

Thanks again guys.

Next year I'm going to plant the whole 'yard' out in front of the cabin!

 

[charlz]

Sweet! My tallest corn is only a foot high ... it won't be till mid-August that I get any. I did have the very first summer squash and some fresh garlic with dinner tonight though

 

[ray66v]

Success!

We went to my parents house on the river this afternoon (July 4th) for barbecue. My sister-in-law, who lives near where my corn is, brought 16 ears of my corn with her when she came up for the barbecue. The corn was great! She pulled some of it too soon, but even it was okay. She said there was lots still left and we're going down tomorrow for a couple of days so we'll see what we get then.

In any case, I'm thrilled. Seems silly to be excited about corn but its something I'd never done before and had low expectations of but still got good fresh corn right on time for our 4th of July family gathering. Doesn't get much better than that.

And, I pretty much followed the advice I got here so you guys were a big help.

Dan,sounds like you got a bounty. I'm very jealous. I sure wish I had somewhere to plant cukes and squash and maters and okra and lopes and all that. I love it all.

I may give okra a try next year down at the cabin. Not sure if the deer will wipe it out or not.

Thanks again guys.

Next year I'm going to plant the whole 'yard' out in front of the cabin!

Hard to beat eating your own corn for the 4th of July.

 

[dmccarty]

I am taking a half day of vacation to finish making a double batch of cuke pickles today. Also have about five pounds of cut up Okra ready to be breaded and frozen. Going to try to pickle some Okra as well.

We have been getting lots of rain, 1-1.5 inches a week and the garden is doing well. Beans will be ready to pick this weekend I think. The Okra will go from 2-3 inches to 6-8 inches overnight. At 8 inches the Okra gets to tough.

We are having to pick cukes and Okra every day or they just get to big and go bad.

Okra, cukes and beans seem to be foolproof to grow. Once they start though you have alot of food to eat, process or give away. Already took a bag of Cukes to work to pawn off on people.

Our corn looks like its getting close to done. I swear some of the stalks are 8-9 feet tall. I have seen some fields near us that were planted a month or so ago.

Later,
Dan

 

[N80]

I love okra pickles. Of course I love okra any which way. I even like it raw. I like cucumber pickles made with tiny cucumbers too.

 

[dooleysm]

My grandma used to pickle okra and I'm thinking about trying to grow and pickle some myself next year. This plan hinges on my success at pickling banana peppers this year. I'm not going to try okra until I get the peppers right.