|
|
Post by Alan on Mar 21, 2010 20:53:15 GMT -5
OK, so I am lucky enough to live in a region where I don't have to grow short season corns, however I am just stubborn enough to want to "play" a litte bit with things as you all well know.
This year I am making selections of painted mountain for my climate in Southern Indiana, both as a home food production experiment/alternative market crop as well as producing corn as early as possible for use in poultry feed for my on farm turkey/guinea flock.
Is there anyone in my region who has tried using painted mountain for an extra early crop of mature corn, if so, how early can it be planted in moist and heavy clay soils and at what temperatures.
By April 1'st I plan to make a small planting to gauge reaction to cold/moist soils, I will make another planting five days latter, and another five days after that.
Any advice? Expectations?
|
|
|
|
Post by mortality on Mar 28, 2010 5:18:12 GMT -5
My Painted Mountain corn arrived from Ireland last week, I will be growing it in the UK this year.
Any hints and tips would be appreciated.
Also what colour seed would be best to choose to plant?
|
|
|
|
Post by mortality on Apr 19, 2010 11:29:01 GMT -5
Planted out the 6 corn plants that germinated, going to try a three sisters thing with Squash (Butternut maybe!) and some french beans (Blue Lake). To my delight one of the corn seedling had pinkish roots  ;D Will do some more sowings when I get more compost. |
|
|
|
Post by grunt on Apr 22, 2010 0:54:46 GMT -5
Mortality: Plant out as many colours as you have room for, save seed from all of them, and plant out again next year from the original seed package. Try to maintain as much genetic diversity as you can in the variety.  |
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Apr 24, 2010 16:24:29 GMT -5
My painted mountain was planted on the 5'th and 6'th of April and the germination has been excellent. This is exceedingly early for planting corn in my region and I am very impressed, particularly that despite it's adaptation for dry regions the seed still managed to sprout in not only cold but very wet and heavy clay soil and showed some amazing vigor.
|
|
|
|
Post by mortality on Apr 25, 2010 9:00:13 GMT -5
I'm in South West England, milder down here, probabily wont get another frost now, however we do get more than our fair share of the British weather (yes, I mean rain), here's hoping for a decent summer. ;D
Just off to plant some more of the corn seeds.
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Apr 25, 2010 14:14:50 GMT -5
Alan, you will love Painted Mountains I am sure. But it is a flour corn. Nothing bad about this of course, but for birds and pigs I have been told that flinty corns are better...Bear Island comes to minf here. Somebody in the SSE catalog listed it as a flour corn, saying it was really one but with a flinty envelope. I would have to agree on that one, Bear Island is quite a special corn. I have sliced many corn kernels in the last years and have to admit to its uniqueness. I am growing it this year, hoping to make enough seeds to grow acres of it in a couple of years. To all here, especially the new members, and God knows we have a lot of them now, I grew it last year....almost. In fact, I had made huge wooden crates to start the corns early. I had one crate of Bear Island and one of a modern hybrid corn. The squirrels ate all my Bear Island and let the modern hybrid right there to grow  I discussed that with a lot of organic farmers and they all had a laugh...then asked for me to grow it bad bad bad ;D Funny how squirrel approved corn can be popular |
|
|
|
Post by bunkie on Apr 26, 2010 10:34:25 GMT -5
hey michel, i thought that Painted Mountain could also be eaten fresh or roasted in the early 'milk' stage...
also used for cornmeal....
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Apr 26, 2010 15:02:58 GMT -5
Of course it can be eaten in those ways, and as cornmeal too.
|
|
|
|
Post by mortality on Aug 19, 2010 8:02:59 GMT -5
The majority of the plants grew and I have some cobs, understandibly my plants are many different sizes and the cobs also greatly vary in size, my question is how do I know when they are ready?
I want to dry all the cobs and save the seeds, does that mean its better to leave them on the plants or?
|
|
|
|
Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Aug 20, 2010 0:05:28 GMT -5
mortalityI didn't specifically plant "Painted Mountain" variety this year, (although i have some seeds for next year), they should be ready if you want to eat them just after the silks turn brown and dry up a little. They should be ready dried if the outer husk is starting to feel dry/crinkly. From my trials this year.. i would recommend trying to let them dry ON the stalk if possible. Mine seemed to dry better on the stalk than the ones i brought in early. (especially the dented/shrivelled cobb's) I really don't like the dented cobs i grew this year. It's definitely a trait i will be "weeding out" from the ones i grow next year. If raccoons are a problem you can harvest the some "early" if they seem full size, and if you can feel fully developed seeds through the husk, just by rubbing the outside briefly. Ig your cobbs vary in size, then just try to feel the seeds. You may have to take a peek at one or two to know how to tell.
|
|
|
|
Post by darwinslair on Aug 20, 2010 7:48:04 GMT -5
Even in areas where the conditions were adverse, my corns did well. No complete failure due to rot, mold, animals, weeds, or poor soil.
Painted Mountain did exceptionally well. Ears are 9-12" long. Plants topped out at about 6'. I am nearly done, but have about rubbed the fingerprints off of my thumbs shelling the stuff so I dont damage any kernels with my hand crank sheller.
Tom
|
|
;D
