Popcorn!

[charline]

oh, I just saw that it is called parching ( not roasting)
see here:
http://www.garden.org/subchannels/he...g?q=show&id=71

[heirloomtomaguy]

I grew 6 glass gem plants in a 20 gal container through the winter last year and it did great. Had 3-4 ears per plant which was quite a surprise. They even made it through the only week of frost we got last year here in southern california. I had to hand pollinate since i grew so few plants but it was easy. Im going to plant a small block here soon just to see if they will make it through the winter this year.

[joseph]

Originally Posted by Mischka

Is seed for this still as scarce as it was, in years past?

Last fall I helped a farmer pick an acre field of Glass Gem corn. His seed is currently available in 50 pound bags.

[BlackBear]

Usually I would be a chicken little about cultivating corn in my area and not try it here . ( as we do not actually get a great amount of heat degree growing days ....just a wide band of frost free days ).

Tom Thumb popcorn was billed as able to prosper even in the cloudy pacific north west

and grows only to 3 ft tall !?? well this year it is doing very well ...early.

Anyone have experience with the variety ?

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by BlackBear

Usually I would be a chicken little about cultivating corn in my area and not try it here . ( as we do not actually get a great amount of heat degree growing days ....just a wide band of frost free days ).

Tom Thumb popcorn was billed as able to prosper even in the cloudy pacific north west

and grows only to 3 ft tall !?? well this year it is doing very well ...early.

Anyone have experience with the variety ?

Don't know about the Tom Thumb for your area, but you ought to pm me and I'll send you some Bear Claw popcorn seeds I have that should do well in your area and also go along nicely with your avatar.

[BlackBear]

Thanks for the tip....I will have to consider and keep looking in to it for next year

[yardn_gardn]

I'm growing popcorn for the first time with rather spotty germination. I'm really trying for some mushroom flake. Most of the seeds I planted came from a kettle corn vendor in Caldwell, Idaho. We usually only get about 105 or so frost free days here in Indian Valley, so this is kind of an adventurous experiment.

[gvozdika]

I'm going to grow Tom Thumb this year. Germinated in 5 days, 100%! They are still in cups but will be transplanted into a pot this weekend. Looking forward to see how it grows.

[BlackBear]

Originally Posted by gvozdika

I'm going to grow Tom Thumb this year. Germinated in 5 days, 100%! They are still in cups but will be transplanted into a pot this weekend. Looking forward to see how it grows.

I tried the Tom thumb in container tubs at the protection of a fence ....they are 14 "

already .......I tried them as they were billed as even growing in the Pacific North West

they go well with the other urban miniatures...like dwarf tomatoes in containers and herbs and baby vegetables etc.

[ChrisK]

A selection from this year. I'm looking for smaller plants with prolificacy while maintaining color diversity.

[heirloomtomaguy]

Looking good Chris. Beautiful color.

[PhilaGardener]

Nifty looking! How well do they pop?

[ChrisK]

According to some, not particularly well. I grow for the beauty. I'll pop corn specifically bred to be good for that purpose.

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

Nifty looking! How well do they pop?

[BlackBear]

I did get some Tom Thumb Popcorn this year and it is really cute and has been drying .....

I think it dries out faster as it is mini .....will try some soon .....

I think just pitch it in the microwave and see if it pops.

[gvozdika]

From 6 Tom Thumb plants I had only one cob ear. The pollen was blown away by the time I needed it to pollinate the rest of the ears. Is it possible to store corn pollen?