Sweetcorn Question

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Bilbo675, Jul 29, 2011.

  1. Bilbo675

    Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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    Hi All, I have a 'block' of sweetcorn in my veg patch that are just starting to produce the 'tassels' at the top of the plant; which is what is needed to pollinate the ears, however there isn't a sign of a single 'ear' on any of the plants, is this normal at this stage?; this is the first time I've grown sweetcorn...

    Thanks :thumb:
     
  2. Trunky

    Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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    Perfectly normal Bilbo, the ears usually appear a week or two after the tassels. :thumb:
     
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    • Bilbo675

      Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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      Thanks for that, puts the mind at rest :thumb:, thought they were firing blanks for a minute...:D
       
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Yes, first you get the tassels on the top - like these (ignore the verbascum spike in the background) :D

      [​IMG]


      And these start up later on :dbgrtmb:

      [​IMG]
       
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      • Plant Potty

        Plant Potty Gardener

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        This is what I have been pondering for part of today, good question Bilbo and great answers :dbgrtmb: my cob is just getting the first parts, looking at Shiney's photo's is it a couple of cobs per plant?


        Plant Potty.:)
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        It depends on the variety. Mine are a baby corn variety and will have about 10 per plant (there are about 6 on each at the moment). We haven't grown these before and they have certainly shot up quickly. They're over 7ft high already :rolleyespink:
         
      • Bilbo675

        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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        Panic over, there are little silky tassles appearing the leaf joints now :thumb: :yess:

        Thanks guys....:thankyou:
         
      • Bilbo675

        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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        And here they are, sweetcorn on the way :thumb:
         

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        • *dim*

          *dim* Head Gardener

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          try this recipe with some sweetcorn (a south african staple diet and normally served on toast for breakfast)
          ... I often buy ready made tins of this from the south african shop near where I live ... kids love this aswell

          1/2 large onion, finely chopped
          2 Tbsp butter
          8 ears corn, husks and silk removed
          1 teaspoon sugar
          1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
          1/2 cup heavy cream
          Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper


          remove the kernels from the husk and place in a blender with the onion, sugar, nutmeg, cream and pepper

          blend till smooth

          melt the butter, and add the mixture .. cook and stir for a few minutes on low heat ... taste and add more salt or sugar according to your taste ... serve on hot toast whilst still warm

          we also used to boil gem squash (a green skinned tennis balled sized squash) ... boil for half an hour ... cut in half and remove the seeds ... fill with the cooked sweetcorn ... place in an oven and bake on 200 degrees C for 10 minutes and serve whilst hot ... goes well with a BBQ or sunday roast
           
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          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

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            Hey, isn't that a Verbascum spike in the background ?? :dbgrtmb::dbgrtmb::dbgrtmb:
             
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            dim, talking of S.A. and food has reminded me of the chorus of a song that may have been before your time. Do you remember "Ag Pleez Daddy!"?

            I still remember the whole song, by Jeremy Taylor, and the trouble he got into with it. :heehee:

            Popcorn, chewing gum
            Peanuts and bubblegum
            Ice cream, candy floss, and Eskimo Pie
            Ag Deddy how we miss
            Nigger balls and liquorice
            Pepsi Cola, Ginger beer, and Canada Dry


             
          • *dim*

            *dim* Head Gardener

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            hey! ... I'm 50 years old, so still remember that song ... was a great hit at drive-ins during interval (drive-in is when you go to movies in your car ... and all kids were in their pyjamas with brylcream in their hair ... that was 'fashion' in those days) ... my dad owned a green Zephyr 6

            you sit in the car and stare at a giant screen with vintage metal speakers that attached to your car windows half wound down... and your mom packed a picnic basket with boiled eggs and sandwiches and Kool aid

            I think it never took on here in the UK as it always rains .... :D
             
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            Bilbo, sorry about going off topic. :love30:

            dim,
            Jeremy was asked to leave in 1963. Nearly all the versions of the song that you can find have omitted the last verse, which together with the B side of the record (Jo'burg Talking Blues) was the main reason for his speedy exit.

            When he returned to England he became popular for writing songs on a satirical TV show (after the closure of the hit West End show 'Wait a Minnim'). One of the songs he wrote was called 'Jobsworth' which was a word he invented and it became part of the language.

            This is the full version of the song that you can't find anywhere nowadays :heehee:

            AG PLEEZ DADDY

            Ag Pleez Deddy
            Won't you take us to the drive-in
            All 6, 7 of us, 8, 9, 10
            We wanna see a flick about Tarzan and the ape men
            When the show is over
            You can bring us back again.

            Chorus:
            Popcorn, chewing gum
            Peanuts and bubblegum
            Ice cream, candy floss, and Eskimo Pie
            Ag Deddy how we miss
            Nigger balls and liquorice
            Pepsi Cola, Ginger beer, and Canada Dry

            Ag Pleez Deddy
            Won't you take us to the funfair
            We wanna have a ride on the bumper cars
            We'll buy a stick of candy floss
            And eat it on the octopus
            And then we'll take the rocket ship that goes to Mars.

            Ag PLEEZ Deddy
            Won't you take us to the wrestling
            We want to see that ou called Sky High Lee
            When he fights Willie Liebenburg
            There's gonna be a murder
            Cos Willie's gonna donner that blerry Yankee

            Ag PLEEZ Deddy
            Won't you take us off to Durban
            It's only 8 hours, in the Chevrolet
            There's spans of sea and sand and sun
            And fish in the aquarium
            That’s a lekker for a holiday

            Ag PLEEZ Deddy
            Foetsaak !!

            Ag Soos Deddy,
            If we can't go up to Bioscope
            We’ll go off to Durban
            Life's a heck of a bore
            If you won't take us to the zoo
            Then what the heck else can we do?
            But go on out and murra all the uggies next door
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Yes, it's 9ft high :yess:. I'm was hoping it would give an example to the walking stick cabbages but no luck :cry3:
               
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              • Phil A

                Phil A Guest

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                Nine feet high, you speak as if you were Peter Cook :heehee:

                We picked the wrong plant for a challenge this year then, mind you, with this weather, it is proving to be a challenge:heehee:
                 
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