Not much happening this time of year.Too hot down here for anything except heat loving plants like corn and melons. Planted corn in my EBs a few weeks ago as a lark and they are doing fantastic.I bought the seed at Lowes. It was their store brand and all it said was "Maize". Anyway according to the picture it is the yellow with white kernels. I enjoy this type of sweet corn and with the price of corn going up to eventually a dollar an ear I thought I'd better start some.
The second batch was planted two weeks later so that I wouldn't have more than we could eat! (I hope) LOL
tplant,
that is incredible!!! I guess there is nothing that you can't do in those boxes!!!
did you start those from seed in the EB? I saw your post about the watermelon and it gave me hope! I don't have a very big property but if I can plant the melon in the box and let it run around the backyard by the fence I think it might work..
did you start the melons from seed in the EB?
i just got 5 boxes (so far!!!) and would like to pick up a few more. I have already asked santa claus so next year I would like to do more than tomatoes. My experience this year with the EB's has been wonderful, the very first time I have been able to grow anything and actually eat it!!! sounds silly but really does give you a sense of accomplishment. sharing my crop with my friends and family has been very fulfilling as well.
-Tia
Tplant,
Not only does that corn look good, it looks "aMAIZEing"!
C'mon folks. SOMEBODY had to say it :)
BDale
Plant, look at that package again, There is a Crookham cultivar named Amaize. a 75 day yellow Se. An early sister to Bodacious. Lots of seed racks carry the Crookham cultivars.
BDale -- LOL but I still don't know the variety of my corn? Not that it really matters.
Tia -- Yes! I start all my plants from seed and direct seed into my EBs. Peas, spinach, stringbeans, okra, cucumbers, cantaloupes, strawberries, honeydews, casaba, spanish melons, watermelons whatever except for tomatos and peppers. Tomatos and peppers must be started inside for best results.The only thing I've not tried are papayas and pineapples although I know it can be done! In containers, other than EBs, I also grow raspberries, mangos, pomegranites, persimmons and fig trees. In my opinion and experience the secret is to follow direction to the letter and use top quality container mix plus dolomite lime and 10-10-10 fertilizer.
The area that I grow all my veggies is only about 35' long x 4' wide. So I am limited for space. Where can one effectively grow sixteen stalks of corn in an area of 28" x 14" ? The EBs are a remarkable product to allow one to be so diversified in such a small area. This plus the amazing production allows me to garden plus I have a disability that makes it very painful for me to do any in-ground farming.
Farmer -- Again you are correct! I thought it was just in spanish for "corn!" LOL
So, you direct sow into the earthboxes? I guess you just put the seeds in and wait for them to get big enough and then put the cover on the box? can you explain a little further, I am not very experienced but am eager to learn. you have given me lots of great ideas!
Do you have that new auto water system for the EB? curious on how difficult it is to set up..if a mechanical ding dong like myself would figure out how to set it up properly!!! LOL!
and I really enjoy seeing the pictures of all your stuff. you have a wonderful green thumb.
Thanks,
Tia
Tia --
No I don't have the automatic watering system. I prefer to water my plants by hand. I'm from the old school. By hand watering it gives me an excellent view of my plants on an individual basis to thoroughly check for any problems while watering.
When seeding, leave the cover on! There is a chart on the www.earthbox.com website that shows you how to plant different varieties of seed as they are not all set the same way. I place the cover on the EBs and use a box cutter to cut an X or a large slice in the cover and plant seed accordingly. The cover always stays on from day one. The corn, for example, are seeded on both sides of the EB by slitting each side. The fertilizer is set in the middle of the EB before placing the cover. As stated prior, corn is planted sixteen stalks per box but I seed about sixteen per side and than pulling out the weaker ones after germination leaving only eight per side. After the corn grows to about one foot I'll use duct tape(white)to close the cover and provide firm support to the cover so the wind does not blow it off. I usually duct tape all my EBs this way the cover always stay put. Very important to keep the cover on at all times. This prevents weeds and a lot of problems spread by weeds and the bugs that always follow. In my area, deep south, we must use the white side. The black side would make the EB to hot and kill the plants. This year I will grow flowers in them such as gladiolas, tulips, hyacinths. The EBs will be set in the landscape of my home and on my deck. There is no limit as to what can be grown in them. Use your imagination! Have fun!!!
Just noticed you are in South Carolina -- I would use the white side of the cover.
This message was edited Jul 26, 2007 10:58 AM
My corn are doing very well. Weather is very, very hot. In the mid 90's most days. Glad I'm growing corn and melons as they do love the heat.
They are getting real tall and appear to like my EBs.
After taking a closer look I spyed upon some tiny ears of corn! I swear they were not there yesterday? They are fast growers and at this rate I'd better go in and boil some water... I'll keep ya'll up to date on a weekly or sooner basis.
You better keep an eye on them or Farmer Frog will get them before you!
Tplant, nice to see your own corn growing out there, huh? It always feels like summer when I see corn waving in the breeze. Enjoy.
Here is a closer picture of the immature corn. Farmer Frog is on guard against squirrels! His orders are to "smack em down!" LOL
Sequee has me all excited as she already has her corn and mine are almost ready. I really can't wait as I love corn on the cob and when I lived on Long Island, NY, I used to buy all my corn directly off the farm. I did that here in Florida for a very short while as the farms were bought out by developers so my home grown ears will taste extra delicious. My EBs are doing a good job. Pictures tomorrow!
You've got me convinced. Corn in the EB next year! I have tomatoes, patty-pan squash, and yellow squash so far in mine. I'm starting my fall crop of tomatoes right now. Can't wait for the new pics and to hear how your corn tastes.
OK so here they are! A little taller and a lot more productive than the last showing. Quite a bit taller also..
The hair has corn!!
They really look good and healthy. I did spray two days ago with Ortho bug spray as the last thing I want to see are those corn worms.
They average two per stalk and sixteen stalks equal thirty-two ears. I used 15-35-15 fertilizer although the EB people say to keep all numbers under "15" but corn are heavy feeders. Hope I did the right formula? Guess I'll know pretty soon?
Awesome! Can't wait for you to taste your first ear and let us know.
Yeah me too! Every day I check them and they get bigger and bigger. Corn seems to be a real fast grower. I feel the corn and can tell that the kernels inside the husk have a way to go yet. I grew corn when I was a kid back in the WW II days when we all had Victory Gardens as a lot of certain types of food were hard to come by or rationed but that was a long time ago!
Some say when the silk turns a dark brown the corn is ready but I remember our silk being a golden color? Think I'll do as Farmerdill suggested and SNEAK A PEEK AT ONE OF THEM BY PEELING DOWN SOME OF THE HUSK. Hope that's not considered cheating? LOL
You know, since they are now using corn to make ethanol and corn and everything else corn related is getting more expensive, too. All this talk about your corn made me hungry for it. It looked great at Kroger but was 2 for 88 cents! Used to be you could get it 10 for 1.00 in the peak of the season. I'd better find the seeds I bought at Lowe's and get some going next year.
I think you get to sneak peeks - I'd have a hard time not doing that!
We're getting 10 or 12 ears for $2 here at Krogers. I'd love to grow corn but would only be able to do it in an EB and then only in one, so I don't think it would be worth it at 2 ears per stalk to go so and save maybe $4 or $6!
You have inspired me to plant corn in my EB next year too, that looks so great!!!
Corn prices here are horrible, I wish we had a Krogers. All the places that have freshed picked daily are charging 6 ears for 4.99!! It sickens me to pay that much for them.
I bought the 2 for .88 corn at Kroger here - I guess we are having a bad season. We had rain solid for 3 months and maybe that affected it. lafko - I guess I should be glad for the .44/each!
I hear you! But if you have never tasted corn freshly picked and eaten then you have never tasted corn. The difference is remarkable and worth any price. My corn is doing remarkably well and I will be picking and eating some this afternoon or tomorrow. I have eaten one raw right in the garden. Sweet as sugar.
I felt the same way about stringbeans until I planted and tasted what fresh really tastes like. There is a world of difference in flavor when taken straight from the garden.
Tplant - I was reading that beans are really good if very, very fresh - so I'm going to do a fall crop of pole beans in the ground. You've got my mouth watering for fresh corn, now! How many ears do you get off each plant?
So far it looks like two or more? Really don't know as this is the first serious time for me. My last try was wiped out by hurricanes a couple of years ago. One of my EBs was blown on its side today as we are having very high winds as Dean passes by. I put some stakes in the ground directly up against the EB and filled it up with water to lower the gravity. It's holding just fine.
Farmerdill -- How many corn per stalk? Do they repeat?
In the field one good ear and a smaller secondary ear sometimes. May do better in an earthbox with plenty of water and nutrients plus more sun exposure. But two usable ears is a very good yield.
Do they repeat? Naw, corn is a very one cycle plant. Oh, someone may come up with a "Come Again" variety but that is one in a thousand.
I am very fortunate as I have two big ears per stalk and I have noticed some corn silk budding out at the lower end of the stalk on some of them. Could this possibly develop into a third ear? I'll keep you informed. We will be picking and eating corn today. Pictures to follow!
Sorry for the horrible picture but we already ate the corn and it was sweet and tender. A real treat. Will be having some on a daily basis so I will be taking a better picture.
So pretty my heart skipped a beat!
Oh, yum!!! My mouth waters.... so glad you posted the pic.
As I promised you, a far better picture that does justice to my corn.
Had to see me taking the credit. No!! That is not my belly button but a water stain. (LOL)
Plant, this is another cultivar with no pictures in Plantfiles. It is as simple to put pictures and comments in Plantfiles as it is in forums. Same procedure, just click on " upload an image." Here is the file for Amaize http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73399/
So Paw, how many stalks per box did you plant?
Sixteen per EB! Most gave me one ear per stalk but three are showing another. Rare! I used 15-30-15 fertilizer as I know corn to be real gluttons.
