Corn Blow-Down

The radar looked rough from work and then the report came out about a possible tornado not too far from my house. I am a little sheltered in a hollow near the top of the hill but not sheltered enough.

All the later season corn is laying flat. I may be able to prop it up but more severe weather is possible today.


My Incredible corn was mature on the first ear and young on the second. Third ear needs more time. Looks like it all gets picked today. The Silver Queen in the background was fine. It has very sturdy feeder roots starting about 5-6 inches above the ground.



My 8 foot tall Peaches and Cream was hammered except for a couple of plants. That is the Silver Queen in the background. The corn is laying down in three different directions.

Yep I know the feeling. We had that happen a few years back. We salvaged some and propped the rest up. It helped

Hopefully you will able to salvage some of the corn!

That's awful. But that's farming. I'm thinking back when we had the "real" farm. If not a hurricane, tornado, drought, monsoon, a couple of times the army worms came through. And of course the weeds. Seems like a lot of things work against ya !

Hopefully you will able to salvage some of the corn!

I picked a couple of coolers of Incredible and gave it away to my tenants and neighbors. I was kind of surprised to find the Peaches and Cream was starting to mature so I will look at picking that later. Been to darn humid to think about blanching and freezing. The young corn is starting to stand up on its own. I didn't touch it yesterday as we had more torrential downpours.

I have had my corn to blow down, and it will try to straighten up on its own. If it is close to maturity, it will finish making just like it is. Not pretty though.

Billy

....Been to darn humid to think about blanching and freezing........

Have you tried freezing it without blanching? Hardly anyone in this area blanches corn before freezing it in this area anymore.

I have not. I should try it. My stand alone freezer croaked with a bumper crop of blueberries in it- about 30 gallons. I have not replaced it but I sure miss my own corn in the winter. I heard people freeze the cob, too, but I don't have the space anymore. I suppose microwaving it would substitute for blanching if someone still wanted to cook it first.

Bob, I think you need to get an aerial view of your corn patch and make sure it's not crop circles.

Bob

I came home from Power of the Red, to some blow down, but not a lot of damage. Ed

I have had my corn to blow down, and it will try to straighten up on its own. If it is close to maturity, it will finish making just like it is. Not pretty though.

Billy

Billy, This morning, most of the young corn was standing up again. I think the elves visited last night!

Unless the stalks break, I've almost always had most of a blow down straighten back up.
It's pretty amazing how they just curve up from the ground.

We had some go down a couple years ago just a little shy of maturity, and it did fine!--Just kinda hard to pick and walk--eeerrr stumble down the rows to pick the ears off!!!---give it a little time and I think you will still get your freezer quota yet!--happy corn eating come the ole howling winds of winter!

We never freeze it on the cob since it wastes valuable freezer space plus tastes cobby, so we cut it all off and bag it in smaller bags! thanks; sonny

We never freeze it on the cob since it wastes valuable freezer space plus tastes cobby, so we cut it all off and bag it in smaller bags! thanks; sonny[/quote]

I agree with Sonny, about the cobby taste. (I admit to being a little picky, about sweet corn, though) I cook the corn, quick cool it, cut it off the cobs, heat seal, and freeze in boilable bags. (more for freezer burn protection, than for reheating ease, although it is convenient to reheat) Ed

Yep. Elves can be helpful sometimes.

Billy