An important tip: Do not plant popcorn and sweet corn within 100 feet of each other. reader Jim Creech notes, “They will cross pollinate, and your sweet corn will taste like sawdust. I learned this the hard way.”
Popcorn is much more forgiving to harvest compared to sweet cornCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Our understanding of American history is undergoing some overdue scrutiny, but it is still safe to say that our Thanksgiving commemorates harvest feasts among Native Americans and English settlers. What they actually ate is a matter of debate, as well, but documents from the time show that one reason for the colonists’ gratitude is their success in growing corn with the help of their Native American friends.
Corn, or maize, was first grown in the Americas at least 8,000 years ago. The most common type for home gardeners to grow is sweet corn, which is the delicious variety we eat on the cob. Other varieties include dent or field corn, flour corn, and today’s subject: popcorn.several weeks ago, reader Jim Creech shared his popcorn photos and observed that it is easier to grow than sweet corn.
Jim explains his harvesting test as follows: “Peel back a husk to reveal the top few rows of kernels. Use your fingernail to try to ‘pop’ a kernel. If you can slice into one, leave it on the stalk. Wait until kernels are hard as…well, popcorn.” He recommends waiting until all the popcorn stalks has dried out so they can be harvested all in one day.Removing the kernels from the cob
After harvest, the hard kernels pose a challenge to remove from the cob. Jim tried every gadget available to “decob” popcorn—”one kernel at time by hand, wooden blocks, knives…but they are either too slow, too painful, or too messy.” Then he devised a method for removing all kernels from the ear in seconds using large-diameter PVC pipe, drilling some holes, and inserting screws.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Northeast Ohio weather: Good travel conditions leading into ThanksgivingMostly sunny sky today
Read more »
Sunny skies, warm temps will melt snow quickly: Northeast Ohio Monday weather forecastThere will be plenty of sunshine and warming temps through the middle of the week in Northeast Ohio.
Read more »
Northeast Ohio snow totals for Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022The lake-effect is fickle, and this time the eastern suburbs of Cleveland recorded the highest amounts
Read more »
100 People Transforming Business highlights 10 DEI leadersInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
Scientists Solve 100-Year-Old Mystery About How Plants Took Root in LandA team of scientists, led by researchers at Yale University, think they have finally figured out why land plants evolved such complex vascular systems – a mystery that has stood for roughly a century.
Read more »
Top 100 Places to Work leaders share moments that brightened 2022In the spirit of Thanksgiving, our Top 100 leaders shared the heartwarming or funny moments that made 2022 more bearable.
Read more »