Question for the Corn experts

[YB]

Greetings all.
I got my phirst seed cataloge (Harris seed) I was not at all thrilled with their product perphormance. Phor 2005 they have a white corn called: 'Sweet Ice'.

According to the description it is suppose to be excellent for cold soil emergence and vigor. It is suppose to be an early variety. I wouldn't mind haveing both early and late corn next season.

My question is: Has anyone ever tried this type of corn and if so, how was your experiance? Have any of you had any luck with Harris seed?

Thanks all. Have a great week....

[jeanette]

davesgarden.com/gwd/

i have never bought anything through the mail, i get the harris seed catolog too, try this site it's called the garden watch dog.
when we buy seed for our fields they always give us sweet corn seed. (pioneer, golden harvest etc...)
remind me in the spring and i'll send you some.

[YB]

Thanks for the site Jeanette. I have either been there or to another site just like it. Now that you mentioned it, I thought I sent a negative post on Harris seeds with this one but I don't see it listed.

Oh well. Have a good evening...

[Pharmer Phil]

Ah, nothin' like the first ear of sweet corn. No YB, I have yet to sit down with the seed catalogs I have received. Harris Seed is a reputable company.
Sweet Corn is so varied in Type,color, that it is hard to wager what the genotype of the Sweet ice may be. Until the early nineteen hundreds, sweet corn was white. Then came Golden Bantam, a yellow corn,This is the corn I plant to this day, all others were breed from this, the bi-colors,etc. Today; however, there are several choices and they grow every year. The fact that they promote this as an early variety, leads me to believe it is either a Su (sugary) variety, or one of the new genotypes, breed from crosses from the Su, Se, and Sh, varieties.

Su, is the old stand by, and Golden Bantam is open-pollinated, which fits my' NO HYBRID' way of gardening.Su corn has trace amounts of sugar in the seed part called the Endosperm. Hybridization enhanced the sugar content, but as with all hybridization, you loose some of the original flavor. The color of the corn, yellow,bi-color,white, makes no difference in the taste, just appearance.
Su corn must be isolated from field corn,and pop corn
Se, (sugar enhanced) contains larger amounts in the endosperm, which is the part of the seed which gives the seedling it's start, This corn will hold up longer from harvest to table, retaining it's sweetness longer. harvest window is slightly longer than with SU varieties because of elevated sugar levels. SE varieties do not require isolation from SU varieties, but they do require isolation from SH2 and field or popcorn.
Sh2. also known as Supersweet or Shrunken sweet corn produces kernels that are at least twice as sweet as normal sweet corn, and also sweeter than sugar-enhanced varieties. The sugars do not convert to starches nearly as fast after harvest. Unfortunately these varieties need a soil temp of around 50-55 degrees for germination to take place, and it is very tricky, or at least here in Mn.And this variety requires Isolation from ALL other corns.
Isolation;however, can be either from dstance, or staggered plantings. Distance is hard to achieve in the normal garden. I prefer the staggered plantings and will wait till the first planting is about 11/2 foot tall before seeding a second planting. I planted two 'recommended varieties' last year...and I got to say, the reco' came from the extension wisemen, they produced 'good' corn, and yes they were hybrids, acclimated to this area, BUT, when the old reliable Golden Bantam came on, well, ask Laura, the corn was Very sweet and was not the hassle of waitng for the soil to warm up, besides the fact that I have to plant corn here when I see the neighbors going by with their planters to be able to BEAT their pollination time,(we are SURROUNDED BY CORN)... I LIKE my Corn...before the 4th. of July ;D
So All I ever suggest to the corn question is a time proven suggestion;
Get the water boilin', then go Pick Ya corn! ;D :4-dontkno

[YB]

Phil, MY MAN, thanks for all the info. I have been looking for stuff like this. I appriciate the effort.. I don't care what all the girls say about you, you are TOTALLY alright Bow

[Pharmer Phil]

No Effort at all My man, I can spew this Cr@# all day, I am a Master Gardener with the UofM, The outlaw below it, well, they kinda exclude me...whenever they CAN Shaking Because I won't spew out there ONE-SIDED Propaganda, What they want a Proper MG, to do...like, Oh My you got A weed in your yard, You better go right out there and Bombard your entire Yard with Triox, or Round-up! Disturbed Anyhow, I will be adding all sorts of garden stuff here...real soon, the weddings over, and as far as I am concerned, all the travrling FOR THE WINTER!!!!!

[YB]

Glad your trip went well and welcome back. Now can you answer my garlic question???

[jeanette]

HUMM that just got me thinking, i have some sweet corn left in the freezer, i think i'll have that for supper.