FARM Jellybean Corn

[thompson]

I'd never heard of this variety... it's beautiful.

This Jellybean Corn Looks Amazing

A stunning strain of glass gem corn developed by Carl Barnes

twistedsifter.com

This Jellybean Corn Looks Amazing

Sep 15, 2020

Reddit user lurkface recently shared this beautiful specimen of glass gem corn from this year’s crop. She explains that the unique strain was developed by farmer Carl Barnes before he passed, and that she traded for some of the seeds nearly a decade ago and has been growing them on her farm in Fallsington, PA ever since.

Glass gem is a flint corn that can be made into a ‘decent’ popcorn or ground into flour, but is not suitable to eat ‘off the cob’. Other potential uses could be for grits, hominy, masa or even whiskey. For those wondering, when popped, the popcorn is white, not colored.

If you’re interested in trying to grow your own ‘jellybean’ corn she sells the seeds on Etsy and offers the following basic growing advice:

“Put corn into ground, at least 10 seeds, spaced 1 foot apart. Water. Watch grow and weed. Fertilize with a high Nitrogen fert 2 times, once at a foot tall and once again when going to tassel.”

via lurkface on reddit

 

[Hognutz]

I wonder what the yield is?

 

[thompson]

I wonder what the yield is?

I don't know. I'd never heard of it before I saw the article. I imagine if you contacted the seller at Etsy she'd be able to tell you.

 

[bw]

I wonder what the yield is?

Same as other field corn. I've grown a some from a few kernels a friend gave me in 2013, and then gave away what I grew so others could raise it.

 

[abby normal]

Beautiful! I want some.

Raccoons raided our sweet corn just when the ears were starting to form, I wonder how critter resistant indian corn is? I'd love to give it a try next year.

 

[Dobbin]

Oh gosh. I thought this thread was about "Candy Corn."

Makers way of infusing sugar into the body - without even the thought of tooth decay.

Dobbin

 

[WalknTrot]

Oh gosh. I thought this thread was about "Candy Corn."

Makers way of infusing sugar into the body - without even the thought of tooth decay.

Dobbin

Me too. Fresh candy corn season - the best time of the year!

That is some beautiful corn. Would think if it's a fairly consistent producer, it would be very popular for decorative purposes.

 

[Wildwood]

I ordered the glass gem in 2013 when it was first available after being rediscovered. The seeds were a thing of beauty. I got some to plant this year from Baker. The color wasn't quite as vivid and I only planted about 15 or 20. I had complete germination and they thrived in my big raised bed but they got much taller than the midget size they were suppose to be. The ears were also on the large side. The color was there but muted. There was absolutely no predator issues and I'm in a very woodsy spot. As it's dried, there is little to no color left. Maybe they needed more nitrogen. I'm so tempted to order this beautiful jelly bean corn...I love color.

 

[CaryC]

FYI our experience with sweet corn was when we planted it in raised beds, rich and dark. Didn't do anything other than grow about 15 feet tall.

Meaning I suspect it was to rich and went "to vine". So suspect it would be better to not do that. Just plant in regular dirt, and use the nitrogen as directed.

Others can clarify/correct.

 

[Dozdoats]

Not good on the cob? Pretty but not practical.

My favorite on-the-cob heirloom is pencil cob-

Pencil Cob Dent Corn - Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, non-Hybrid Victory Seeds®

Old "shoe peg type" dent corn. Very tasty as a roasting & creaming ear.

www.victoryseeds.com

Pencil Cob
Dent Corn​

75 to 100 days — Although now relatively rare, this old "shoe peg type" dent corn variety is an heirloom variety from the Southern United Stated that pre-dates 1900. 'Pencil Cob' is a very flavorful roasting ear corn variety, or picked in its early milk stage at about 75 days, it is used for frying or creaming. Since most field corn varieties have low sugar content, try adding a little sugar when creaming. 'Pencil Cob' is also useful as wildlife and livestock feed.

The plants grow five to six feet tall and produce two to three ears per stalk. As seen in the picture, it gets its name from the fact that the cobs are not much bigger in diameter than a pencil. Although most merchants simply state that it is a white corn, the color of the kernels are actually a dull or drab white color with a yellowish hue, and tips that pick up a reddish tinge from the cob's coloring. 'Pencil Cob' withstands dry weather spells well. Each ounce is approximately 110 seeds.

 

[Wildwood]

FYI our experience with sweet corn was when we planted it in raised beds, rich and dark. Didn't do anything other than grow about 15 feet tall.

Meaning I suspect it was to rich and went "to vine". So suspect it would be better to not do that. Just plant in regular dirt, and use the nitrogen as directed.

Others can clarify/correct.

Yep...I'd already decided not to ever put it in my raised bed again...first year with a raised bed. The roots were so big that we had to get up in the bed with a shovel to get them out. Of course it displaced a lot of dirt and sucked a lot of nutrients out of the soil I'm sure. I grew it in a grid rather than in a straight row...same for sunflowers. I just did a couple for pretty in one corner and they were striking but never again.

 

[Rebel_Yell]

Not good on the cob? Pretty but not practical.

My favorite on-the-cob heirloom is pencil cob-

Pencil Cob Dent Corn - Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, non-Hybrid Victory Seeds®

Old "shoe peg type" dent corn. Very tasty as a roasting & creaming ear.

www.victoryseeds.com

Pencil Cob
Dent Corn​

75 to 100 days — Although now relatively rare, this old "shoe peg type" dent corn variety is an heirloom variety from the Southern United Stated that pre-dates 1900. 'Pencil Cob' is a very flavorful roasting ear corn variety, or picked in its early milk stage at about 75 days, it is used for frying or creaming. Since most field corn varieties have low sugar content, try adding a little sugar when creaming. 'Pencil Cob' is also useful as wildlife and livestock feed.

The plants grow five to six feet tall and produce two to three ears per stalk. As seen in the picture, it gets its name from the fact that the cobs are not much bigger in diameter than a pencil. Although most merchants simply state that it is a white corn, the color of the kernels are actually a dull or drab white color with a yellowish hue, and tips that pick up a reddish tinge from the cob's coloring. 'Pencil Cob' withstands dry weather spells well. Each ounce is approximately 110 seeds.

Corn Seeds - Pencil Cob | Heirloom Non-GMO Vegetable Garden Corn Seed

Pencil Cob grows 5-6 ft. tall producing 2-3 ears per stalk with a pencil thin cob and long, deep kernels. Good for roasting, frying or creaming in its milk stage. Get Free Shipping & Handling.

sustainableseedco.com

My family has always planted this shoepeg variety to use as a multipurpose field corn. It is a little softer than most field corn, and I always plant a patch for grits and corn meal. This company has decent prices for larger quantities of seed if anyone wants to give it a try. I have to plant a large patch because the coons and deer REALLY like it.

 

[bev]

Oh gosh. I thought this thread was about "Candy Corn."

Makers way of infusing sugar into the body - without even the thought of tooth decay.

Dobbin

I love candy corn, but Sugar? I thought it was a vegetable!