delayed gratification

This past winter I asked the boys what they wanted to grow in our garden plot. "Carrots, peas, tomatoes for Toby, and corn" Corn has not produced more than a couple lonely kernels on several pathetic ears for us in previous years. We started browsing the seed racks at the hardware store early and a beautiful packet caught my eye - Strawberry Popcorn (Zea mays). Sweet corn gave us trouble and took so much valuable space, but the image of tiny stalks and ears of red popping corn was just too tempting. Almost 100% germination and the corn was possibly knee high (to Tobias) by the 4th of July. But as you can see it towered over him by mid August.






It started to dry on the stalk about the time the critters started eating it. Afraid we'd lose it all we picked it by early September. The boys greedily husked it right there at the garden. At home it sat in a brown paper bag till mid October when we striped the cured kernels off the cobs.





Our 36 stalks (using a space about 32 sq ft) produced about 2 1/2 cups of kernels. Cooking 1/4 cup of kernels gives the 4 of us a thoroughly satisfying (in a colonial sort of way) little snack. If your house has not been recently blessed with the smell of real popcorn cooking in real oil on the stove, you must do it. I've saved some seeds if anyone wants to give growing it a shot.











Over a bowl of hot popcorn and cold cider, we're already planning next year's garden!