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Post by john on Jun 27, 2022 10:43:49 GMT -6
That Navajo robin's egg corn is really pretty. I love the way you are growing it in the wood chip mulch. I bet that mulch helps hold the moisture in the sandy soil.
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Post by june on Jun 27, 2022 12:32:49 GMT -6
Update on Navajo Robin's Egg corn...still thriving. Height is between waist high to shoulder high. Some of the ears are VERY low to the ground. So inviting and handy for a small animal-- so far no animal damage but I'm forever watchful and worrying. I have a 4-strand electric deer fence, but right now I have the bottom strand disabled (I'm behind in weeding). Top 3 wires are still hot. The zinnias are volunteers that I left around the edges.
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Post by june on Jun 27, 2022 12:36:18 GMT -6
I've really been fortunate--I know this is right in a hungry animal's face and so tempting....most ears are not THIS low! (almost growing right out of the ground). LOL
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Post by june on Jun 27, 2022 12:40:19 GMT -6
Pollination needs to hurry up and get finished. My 2nd patch (Oklahoma Cherokee Sallu Yah)--planted 30 days later looks like it may start tasseling before too many more days! I don't know when the danger of the two varieties crossing will be over.
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Post by woodeye on Jun 30, 2022 13:29:26 GMT -6
Your corn looks great, june!
Corn is so much fun to grow, I really miss it. I haven't grown any since 2014. I have a 16 gallon spray tank on my four wheeler that I drive around the corn patch and spray for worms. It works great. I didn't have a fence around my corn, but when it got close to harvest time I drove my four wheeler around and around the corn patch at different times during the night. I managed to keep the critters off of it, harvested 300 ears.
I was just studying last night about growing corn again,
I'm thinking about trying some Bloody Butcher corn, because it gets so tall that critters might not bother it as much.
Also saw some Jimmy Red corn that is supposedly real good corn, it gets almost as tall.
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Post by june on Jul 22, 2022 4:47:26 GMT -6
UPDATE on Navajo Robin's Egg Corn: I've been working my garden this entire year using only one arm--FINALLY had my shoulder surgery (rotator cuff tears and bone spurs)...doing great, but still only able to use one arm for the rest of this season. Anyway, I got my NRE corn picked...(just in time because the animals have found it)..all picked now...and safe.
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Post by june on Jul 22, 2022 4:57:19 GMT -6
My 2nd variety, Cherokee Sallu-yah, was planted 30 days later--to maintain purity--is coming along nicely. Now with tassels and silks. It is a much taller corn with ears much higher on the stalk...hopefully animals will not find it until it has time to mature.
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Post by june on Jul 22, 2022 5:08:02 GMT -6
My corn patches are not very big--maybe 30 X 30 and in my back yard. I have cut down and chopped up all the old brown stalks in the patch where my NRE corn grew. I will use the chopped stalks as mulch. I don't dig my soil--just add new stuff on top. I have ordered some brown crowder peas that I will plant in this space as soon as they come in the mail...they're nothing special--just cheapest, fastest thing I could buy to put in that space--and probably survive the weather.
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Post by macmex on Jul 22, 2022 5:29:47 GMT -6
Woodeye, bet you'll enjoy growing corn! There are so many good varieties available! June, so glad you got your rotator cuff worked on. Will pray for a good recovery. The Navajo Robin's Egg corn looks great!
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Post by woodeye on Jul 22, 2022 6:48:06 GMT -6
june, thrilled that you have had your surgery, hoping that your recovery is successful. Your corn looks wonderful!
macmex, yes I will have some corn growing next year. I'm still in the process of narrowing down my choices. Right now my favorite 4 are Mesquakie, Cherokee Squaw, Jimmy Red, or Bloody Butcher. The toughest part is narrowing it down further because I think any one of them would be fun to grow. But I'm leaning towards Mesquakie, I think it would be the best choice for my first year of growing corn that is not 'sweet corn'...
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 24, 2022 14:50:45 GMT -6
June, those ears of Navajo Robin’s Egg corn look just beautiful. I’m glad you were able to rescue them from the animals. I hope your Cherokee Sallu-yah does equally well for you. My hat is off to you for all your hard work on your gardens this year.
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Post by june on Jul 25, 2022 6:19:02 GMT -6
Oh, NO! Whole new problem! Went to garden this morning and found this! Either squirrel or coon...I suspect squirrel since the stalks are not broken. Ears are about 4' above the ground. Happened either yesterday or last night. I can afford to lose a few, but my patch is not big enough for a lot! If it continues, I will try to bag what I can...This is my Cherokee Sallu-yah patch.
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Post by woodeye on Jul 25, 2022 7:04:27 GMT -6
Sorry to see this, june. I had a few ears of corn that were damaged like your first photo, I blamed mine on squirrels. Out of 303 ears, they damaged 3...
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Post by june on Jul 25, 2022 7:08:54 GMT -6
Woodeye, that makes me feel better. I can lose a few...I just don't want everything wiped out!
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Post by woodeye on Jul 25, 2022 7:13:56 GMT -6
june, I hope it was squirrels. I know how you feel about something like this happening. I was a nervous wreck for 2 weeks or more while my corn was so vulnerable. As fun as growing corn is, there is still a level of apprehension that goes along with the fun part. At least there is for me. It's worth it though, and best of luck to you...
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