What would be the best method for saving the seed for next year for
this heirloom corn?

What would be the best method for saving the seed for next year for
this heirloom corn?


Just let it dry on the stalk.then shuck it out store in a cool dry place for a
couple of weeks ,then shell it and store it for next year. Hopefully you didn't
plant any other type of corn near it.

(FarmerDill) wrote in message ...

What would be the best method for saving the seed for next year for
this heirloom corn?


Just let it dry on the stalk.then shuck it out store in a cool dry place for a
couple of weeks ,then shell it and store it for next year. Hopefully you didn't
plant any other type of corn near it.

Thanks for the advice! I don't have it in the ground yet and I'm not
likely to this year. How far from another type of corn will it need
to be?

Another question: where is the best place to keep seed packets?
Kitchen drawer, refrigerator, freezer, somewhere else?

Thanks,
Gary

Thanks for the advice! I don't have it in the ground yet and I'm not
likely to this year. How far from another type of corn will it need
to be?


It can be sepwerated by either time or space. The key is to keep the pollen
from another variety from falling on the silks of your "Shoepeg/Country
Gentleman" So if you plant a corn with which matures at the same time, upwind
about a quarter mile, downwind, maybe a 100 feet, You can also stagger planting
so the the "Shoepeg is the only corn maturing at that particular time. It is a
late season corn, so most of your early corns will be mature before CG begins,
It is still grown commercially so seed is readily available,
Another question: where is the best place to keep seed packets?
Kitchen drawer, refrigerator, freezer, somewhere else?


Freezer is good for long term storage, ie 5 years or more. If you want to plant
the following year any cool dry place is sufficient. cabinet drawer, pantry
even the garage if it is mouse proof.

Do I care if the corn cross pollinates with another variety if I'm
not
going to save the corn seed for next year? Does it matter if it's a
hybrid or an open pollinator?

Thanks
Gary

Do I care if the corn cross pollinates with another variety if I'm
not
going to save the corn seed for next year? Does it matter if it's a
hybrid or an open pollinator?

Thanks
Gary

Yes and No. With corn you eat the seed, so you are immediately dealing with the
cross, Most times with standard corns either OP's or Hybrid it doesn;t matter
too much. In fact I often plant alternate rows of Silver Queen and Golden Queen
which results in a nice bi-color mix, If I did not like bi-colors that could be
a problem, The supersweet varieties (SH2) tend be become tough and chewy when
cross pollinated so extra care must be taken to isolate those from standard
corns,

"FarmerDill" wrote in message
...

Do I care if the corn cross pollinates with another variety if I'm
not
going to save the corn seed for next year? Does it matter if it's a
hybrid or an open pollinator?

Thanks
Gary

Yes and No. With corn you eat the seed, so you are immediately dealing
with the
cross, Most times with standard corns either OP's or Hybrid it doesn;t
matter
too much. In fact I often plant alternate rows of Silver Queen and
Golden Queen
which results in a nice bi-color mix, If I did not like bi-colors that
could be
a problem, The supersweet varieties (SH2) tend be become tough and
chewy when
cross pollinated so extra care must be taken to isolate those from
standard
corns,

In addition to pollination concerns, a problem for me is the birds
sometimes beat me to the corn as the kernels dry out. Putting paper
bags over the ears to keep birds out helps. The tall Country Gentlemen
also has more of a lodging tendency than short-stalk varieties. But is
still one of my favorites. -Olin