I tried to go back to page 1 of this thread to edit a post I made to sum up the corn information and there is no edit to click on so that I may do so. So here is my summary of Painted Mountain corn.
1st planting: April 8, 2016. Crows pulled up every single sprout, ate the corn kernel off and left the seedling to die. Replanted on April 19, 2016. It came up April 25, 6 days later. I had covered the rows with wire hoops and bird netting, didn't lose a single one to crows. The first tassel was May 25 and I picked all the ears yesterday for dry corn. From plant to harvest was 74 days!
Now for the condition of the corn, this is my second year to garden in pure sand. I mulched heavily over the winter and had 3 pigs in the garden last winter. The mulch area where the corn grew was mulched in pine needles. I amended with more manure. The fertility just wasn't there, it will take time to get the deep rich soil I want. Very few of the ears were long and filled out. Most were short nubbins with curled tips of undeveloped cob, showing the promise of what could have been. Corn worms got into almost every cob, rabbits ate tops off many of the cobs and my horses reached over the fence, pulling up every one they could reach. So with all the negatives, I am more than pleased with my harvest. This year, if I get anything at all, I am thrilled.
I found a few cobs of dark, dark purple, almost black. I think I will plant these separately to see if I get more of the same or if they produce multicolors. I put 2 nice ears on top of the basket to show what should have been, but mostly didn't get. I will spread them out to dry further. I had to pick as some of the ears were starting to sprout! Some I tossed because they had mold. Maybe I should have picked them sooner. So from plant to pick was 74 days. I am happy that I have enough to have seed for next year and I have enough to make corn meal. I will report back with my first cornbread from this amazing corn!
