Sweet Corn in my 2014 Garden

I'm starting this thread here because I went off-topic and got to talking about sweet corn varieties over in the Peppers forum. To continue, I'm moving the discussion over here.

Terri, like I said, the best sweet corn variety I've found is Xtra-Tender 2573 from Johnny's Selected Seeds. I've grown it for three years now, and I doubt that I'll ever plant any others again. 2573 is early, has big attractive bicolor ears (nearly always two ears per stalk), is super-super sweet and flavorful, it freezes real well, and it grows on compact stalks that let me get much more corn out of the same ground.

I've grown lots of other corn varieties in the past, most often Kandy Korn, which we love. But, here's the comparison: I had to raise the giant Kandy Korn stalks 12" apart in rows 42" apart - if it's planted closer than that, it stunts. I grow Xtra-Tender 2573 9" apart in rows 36" apart - and that's an enormous increase in productivity. Also, the little 6-foot 2573 stalks are much easier to pull and compost at the end of the season than are corn varieties with bigger stalks.

I know you grow other corn varieties, so the only negative I can think of for you is that 2573 is a "sh2" type corn. I don't really understand the details, but I know you CANNOT have sh2 corn tasseling and growing silks at the same time as any other nearby corn variety, or they'll cross-pollinate and ruin both crops.

My garden is in the middle of our 6-acre place and my neighbors don't grow corn, so I'm good with that. It could be a problem, though, if your neighbors plant corn or if you have any other corn varieties tasseling at the same time. Other than that, I can't think of a single negative thing about 2573.

And I replied:

Ozark, I just got Johnny's, Territorial Seeds and High Mowing Organic.

I haven't narrowed down my sweet corn selection for this year so thanks for the tip on Xtra-Tender 2573. Last year's sweet corn crop was a bit of a bust for me. I usually always include Country Gentleman, which did fairly well. I think the weather was mostly the problem in my garden last year, but I also tried some varieties I hadn't before. One was Bodacious which didn't do well for me and what I did produce didn't really taste all that great to me or to DH. I've been kind of considering Natural Delight F1 Hybrid (78 days) from High Mowing. At 73 days, X-T2573 would fit in for my early corn selection. Country Gentleman is a late corn, so that would work-I stagger my planting dates but I like to pick an early, mid-, and late corn for good measure. I like to freeze some of my sweet corn and Natural Delight is described as a good freezing candidate. Did you freeze some of you Xtra-Tender? If so, how did it work out?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I should explain that I grow Country Gentleman because my kids (now grown) like it. I had trouble getting the boys to eat their veggies when they were young. But I could serve up Country Gentleman sweet corn at every meal and they would dig in. Plus it freezes very well. So I just keep going with it. At some point I should probably just give up on the CG and just grow one variety. Although one son still lives up the road from us, the other lives far, far away.

I garden in the middle of 75 acres and none of my nearest neighbors garden at all. So I just really spread out my planting times to get a variety of sweet corn. Also, due to high winds in my garden, I started cutting off the tops of the stalks once the tassels have had enough time to spew out their pollen. Someone here on Dave's suggested that method last year and it really does help with the wind issue. And I thought it would help with any potential cross pollination issues. The goats got the tops and now the garden is getting the goat poo. So that seems like a win/win ☺!

Thanks for starting this thread, Ozark. Will be interested to see what everyone else is planning in the way of sweet corn. And I am going to try the Xtra-Tender 2573.

Terrie it may have been me who said knock off the tops I have been doing it since the late 60's when it's taseled as it will stop blow over and speed ripening and it will make it ripen at the same time . It's a method the commercial corn processors used at that time. They had rotary mowers mounted high up on tractors that mowed four rows at a time. I helped my FIL grow 600 acres of sweet corn for the cannery so I learned some tricks.

Oz I have been a long time believer in Golden jubilee with plantings of Silver Queen and Kandy Korn. I have felt the Golden jubilee of old has been lost and it's not as good as it once was. This year I tried Reliance and Brocade both from Jonny's I think. Anyway both were very good producers and I could grow either again. I think I will try your x-t2573 just because I am nuts lol never happy with most of what I grow have to try something different.

Tell me exactly how to lop those cornstalk tops off, please! There will be a top ear of corn growing on each stalk - how far above the top ear should I cut? Also, when can I be sure that complete fertilization has taken place for each ear (they get fertilized one grain at a time). Should I wait until the silks start to dry?

We're in thunderstorm country here, and more than once I've had all or part of my corn crop laid down by wind. I've taken to driving 5' metal t-posts at the ends and in the middle of each row and running a strong cord right beside the stalks on the downwind side, to keep them from going down in a wind. Cutting off the tops would help, I know.

Oz cut of is a matter of your choice I have cut it just above the top ear but while the corn was ok it made it to easy for the birds to get. So I would tell you half way from the top ear to the top of the plant. I feel the ear and if it's full and solid feeling it's time. Obviously the silks have to be pronounced.

The only time I get blow down is when I get Lazy and don't top.

As to what to use to cut the tops with. I have used butcher knives. machetes, weed eaters, and garden loppers They all work

G-90, it will produce suckers, no other gardeners near, it will blow over under certain conditions (Trees and houses will too) but usually straightens back up. Plant early on bed or flat, depending on your ground.

The only thing, I’ve noticed, that coons like better are wild cherries–and possibly watermelon. I’ve never had sweetcorn and watermelons coming off at the same time.

You must get a lot more wind than we do around here, because I've never seen a corn plant blown over. There's a lot of field corn planted here as I'm in the middle of Dairy Country.

It’s been a wet couple of weeks, plenty of rain. The ground is soggy. The stalks are advanced. A good chance to be a nice crop, you decide with contentment.

Through the mid-afternoon heat, a black front approaches fast from the west. You’ve been watching it, gauging its color and movement. It won’t be long.

It’s not an everyday wind; it’s violent and unpredictable. It unleashes a portion of its power. You stand still in awe and anxiety and wonder, Is this gonna be the one with the nayda in it?

You walk about measuring damage. The heat’s gone. Just washed and swept-clean air, and the thought that you and yours are still alive to breathe it, quickens your being.

A widening patch of blue grows in the western sky. The sun breaks through, and you turn toward the dull thunder and darkness ebbing to the east, searching, expectant. Will it be there, Yes! It’s so pretty, just as much so to them. Add the mystery to the beauty and it’s no wonder they called it a sign.

The major damage is to the corn. It’s no big thing. It’ll probably straighten back up, you decide.

and give thanks over and over.

We get the same here, AdamAgain. I think we might share some of the same weather.

I also get these dust devils. I had one that took out 19 of the 20 fig trees I had just planted. Just pulled them out of the ground and dropped them off in neighboring fields up along the road.

I usually pound in t-post around my sweet corn beds and then string the pole bean trellis netting horizontally about three feet off the ground. The corn stalks just grow right through it and that helps support the stalks in high winds. (It kind of helps keep the birds out, too). But I do believe it was eweed who suggest cutting of the tops of the stalks. I do remember there was at least one photo involved. I tried it last year and it works. Sooooo, thank you eweed for the tip! ☺

Thank you my child be sure to remember your thanks when I pass the hat lol