Post by macmex on Aug 10, 2018 15:10:30 GMT -6
Hey folks,
I thought I'd start a thread on Mesquakie Indian corn, a variety I obtained from Sandhill Preservation Center in 2006. I won't take the time, right now, to look up the history in detail, but I will say that this is not a pure Native American variety. As I recall, the Ketelsen family, In Iowa, kept this corn going, passing it down from generation to generation. They obtained their first seed in the 1800s when their ancestors first arrived in Iowa to homestead. They needed some corn, for the winter and traded with the Mesquakie for some baskets of corn. Then they saved seed and replanted, from year to year. Over the years, however, the original seed got crossed with other corns in the area. It's still multicolored, but now it's primarily dent corn. Looking at it, I suspect the original seed was flint, as it shows a lot of "flinty" characteristics.
When we were moving to Oklahoma I called the Drowns and asked for a recommendation. I needed a corn which would withstand wind. I wanted something really hardy and productive, and, I didn't care if it was sweet. My main interest was for making cornmeal. Back then, when I called, I almost always spoke with Linda. She was the communications person for the company. She conveyed my query to Glenn. In a couple days I received three recommendation from Glenn, all of which he felt fit my criteria:
1. Mesquakie Indian
2. Glenn Beasly
3. Blue Clarage
I chose Mesquakie Indian because it was the most colorful of the three. I figured, if all things are considered equal, why not have more color?
The first summer I grew this corn, I knew I had a keeper. When it was loaded with green ears we had 4" of rain in an hour accompanied by a 70 mph derecho microburst. Mesquakie Indian tilted, but it did not fall (lodge). It finished maturing its crop in spite of adverse weather conditions (drought and storms).
Since that time I've grown it often. I also branched out into Cherokee Squaw, another variety from the early 1800s. I obtained Cherokee Squaw through a Seed Savers Exchange member in Norman, OK. Cherokee Squaw might be even a bit superior, but I dearly love Mesquakie Indian. I never tire of husking ears and discovering the various hues and colors. Each ear is either yellow with blue & purple or various shades of red with purple mixed in. I have, however, found browns and other colors mixed in.
This year I planted quite late (June 12). Also, I planted it in a new area which was so rocky that, the first evening I tried to plant, it was getting dark, I was in a HURRY, my hoe threw SPARKS, I couldn't get a deep enough furrow to plant, and, when I was finished (in about 15 minutes) I had bent the blade of my hoe! The next evening I went out there, equipped with a pick and made my furrows with that. The corn came up very well and has prospered, in spite of the hard soil.
Here are some pictures.
These are the basic colors represented in this variety. The ears are larger and fuller in good years, when adequate moisture is present. Also, I understand that they are MUCH larger when grown further North.
Here's a picture of the plants on August 9, 2018, 58 days from sowing.
I believe it's doing better than most years because I have watered it when it gets real dry. Normally I just kind of let it fend for itself. But this year, it started so late, that I knew I had to water if we stood any chance of a harvest. Some stalks are at 12' now!
Here's a picture of the end of the rows. You can see how heavily this corn is setting.
Anyway, I wanted to share this. Corn, corn for grain, is one of my chief joys in the garden. It's hardy and productive. It produces lots of biomass, and, it will crowd out Bermuda grass. I'll write more soon.
George
I thought I'd start a thread on Mesquakie Indian corn, a variety I obtained from Sandhill Preservation Center in 2006. I won't take the time, right now, to look up the history in detail, but I will say that this is not a pure Native American variety. As I recall, the Ketelsen family, In Iowa, kept this corn going, passing it down from generation to generation. They obtained their first seed in the 1800s when their ancestors first arrived in Iowa to homestead. They needed some corn, for the winter and traded with the Mesquakie for some baskets of corn. Then they saved seed and replanted, from year to year. Over the years, however, the original seed got crossed with other corns in the area. It's still multicolored, but now it's primarily dent corn. Looking at it, I suspect the original seed was flint, as it shows a lot of "flinty" characteristics.
When we were moving to Oklahoma I called the Drowns and asked for a recommendation. I needed a corn which would withstand wind. I wanted something really hardy and productive, and, I didn't care if it was sweet. My main interest was for making cornmeal. Back then, when I called, I almost always spoke with Linda. She was the communications person for the company. She conveyed my query to Glenn. In a couple days I received three recommendation from Glenn, all of which he felt fit my criteria:
1. Mesquakie Indian
2. Glenn Beasly
3. Blue Clarage
I chose Mesquakie Indian because it was the most colorful of the three. I figured, if all things are considered equal, why not have more color?
The first summer I grew this corn, I knew I had a keeper. When it was loaded with green ears we had 4" of rain in an hour accompanied by a 70 mph derecho microburst. Mesquakie Indian tilted, but it did not fall (lodge). It finished maturing its crop in spite of adverse weather conditions (drought and storms).
Since that time I've grown it often. I also branched out into Cherokee Squaw, another variety from the early 1800s. I obtained Cherokee Squaw through a Seed Savers Exchange member in Norman, OK. Cherokee Squaw might be even a bit superior, but I dearly love Mesquakie Indian. I never tire of husking ears and discovering the various hues and colors. Each ear is either yellow with blue & purple or various shades of red with purple mixed in. I have, however, found browns and other colors mixed in.
This year I planted quite late (June 12). Also, I planted it in a new area which was so rocky that, the first evening I tried to plant, it was getting dark, I was in a HURRY, my hoe threw SPARKS, I couldn't get a deep enough furrow to plant, and, when I was finished (in about 15 minutes) I had bent the blade of my hoe! The next evening I went out there, equipped with a pick and made my furrows with that. The corn came up very well and has prospered, in spite of the hard soil.
Here are some pictures.
These are the basic colors represented in this variety. The ears are larger and fuller in good years, when adequate moisture is present. Also, I understand that they are MUCH larger when grown further North.
Here's a picture of the plants on August 9, 2018, 58 days from sowing.
I believe it's doing better than most years because I have watered it when it gets real dry. Normally I just kind of let it fend for itself. But this year, it started so late, that I knew I had to water if we stood any chance of a harvest. Some stalks are at 12' now!
Here's a picture of the end of the rows. You can see how heavily this corn is setting.
Anyway, I wanted to share this. Corn, corn for grain, is one of my chief joys in the garden. It's hardy and productive. It produces lots of biomass, and, it will crowd out Bermuda grass. I'll write more soon.
George
When we were kids, we'd sneak out to grandma's garden and snap off all the white silked ears, so grandma wouldn't see them. I guess it must have worked; she lived to be 92. 
