|
Post by raymondo on Jun 16, 2010 18:16:12 GMT -5
I'm looking to develop a flour corn suitable for my region. I had intended to develop a white corn because I like the look of the white flour but having read a bit on this forum about colour and nutritional value I'm beginning to wonder whether I should be going for a coloured corn.
My base flour corn stock consists of 20 or so seeds of two white flour corns, Posole Santo Domingo and Hickory White, collected from just a handful of plants after a disastrous corn growing attempt last season. I had intended growing these along with some white sweet corn to reintroduce genetic diversity and select from there. There are very few flour corn types grown in Australia to choose from and importing is virtually impossible for a home gardener as there are very restrictive and costly import conditions.
So, what do people think? Would I gain much in the way of added nutritional value by having coloured corn?
|
|
|
Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Jun 16, 2010 22:45:10 GMT -5
Is the Australian postal service that protective that they would search and siege even small envelopes containing small samples of seeds?
Anyway, I hope others like alan chime in soon, since i'm certainly not an expert at corn. Although i do like to experiment.
I'd say that any white plants are usually less nutritious than any of their colored counterparts. Take carrots for example. From what i hear the white ones are the least nutritious, with orange being median, and purple being the most.
I say go for a colored one if you don't have any preference. The more genetic variation, the better off you'll probably be. If you can order small amounts of seeds... say packets of 10 seeds per packet, then try nativeseeds.org. Maybe you would be interested in the Mojave (white) and Hopi Blue.
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jun 16, 2010 23:33:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jun 16, 2010 23:35:33 GMT -5
There are very few flour corn types grown in Australia to choose from and importing is virtually impossible for a home gardener as there are very restrictive and costly import conditions. The usa doesn't allow importing of seeds either... But if someone mails ten packages containing seeds maybe six will get through.
|
|
|
Post by DarJones on Jun 17, 2010 0:07:40 GMT -5
The objective of phytosanitary laws is to prevent pests and diseases from spreading. Look at the honeybee if you want a really good case in point. We in the USA did not have tracheal mites, varroa mites, or small hive beetles. Then in 1988, we got tracheal mites because some idiot imported bees from Japan without proper checks. Then we got varroa mites from a similar situation in Mexico. Then a few years ago we got small hive beetles.
Are you really sure you want to import seed given the decimating effects of some disease or pest getting loose?
DarJones
|
|
|
Post by raymondo on Jun 17, 2010 0:19:32 GMT -5
I have about a hundred seeds of a 'variety' called Indian Ornamental, lots of different colours and seed shapes. Sounds like I should use some of this and my few white flour corn seeds to start off, rather than combining my flour corn with a sweet corn. Or perhaps I should use all three.
|
|
|
Post by grunt on Jun 17, 2010 2:03:46 GMT -5
I'd go with all 3. I can try sending you a few small seed packs of several varieties, or maybe a corn based variant of a bean bag.
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jun 17, 2010 17:51:07 GMT -5
Are you really sure you want to import seed given the decimating effects of some disease or pest getting loose? I am certain that I value freedom more than hypothetical safety. I am certain that in spite of any attempts to stop them, that organisms are going to travel freely throughout the world. I am certain that the unintentional harm caused by misguided phytosanitation regulations is greater than the small amount of good that is envisioned by the people that pass such laws. I am certain that the value of freely traveling organisms is greater to me as an individual, and to humanity, and to the ecology in general than their value would be if every organism was fixed in it's current location. In my ideal world, I would buy up a county or two in the southern usa, and i would give it to a wild band of elephants and camels: Reintroduce them to their traditional homeland. Regards, Joseph
|
|
|
Post by raymondo on Jun 18, 2010 1:54:05 GMT -5
Very generous offer Dan but I think I'll be able to find enough initial diversity to be able to select out what I want without upsetting our quarantine service.
|
|