recommended Heirloom and/or Open Pollinated vegetable varieties

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I live in Texas, zone 9, just SW of Houston. The winters are mild and the summers are hot, humid and dry. I have bought much of my seed from my local feed and gardening stores, but they unfortunately don't carry any HL or OP corn. I would of course like to grow sweet corn, and also some feed corn for my chickens. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what would be some good varieties. I do have a catalog from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and they have so many to choose from. Thank you very much, LaDena

-- LaDena Johnson (kjohsnon@wcnet.net), February 27, 2001

Answers

I have about the same growing conditions that you have.I grow Truckers Favorite and Pickaninny sweet corn.Bloody Butcher field corn does well here.One of your local feed and seed stores should have Truckers Favorite. BB will have to come from one of the catalogs such as Pinetree Seed or Sandhill Preservation.Pickaninny is no longer available except through Seed Savers Exchange members.If you intend to save the seed be sure to stagger planting dates so none are tasseling at the same time.One month is the separation I use.

-- JT in Florida (gone2seed@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001.

Thank you so much for the advice. I Checked with the feed store and all they have is G90 sweet corn and Yellow Dent feed corn. She didn't have a variety name for the feed corn. I did find Bloody Butcher in my Southern Exposure Seed Exchange catalog.They are low on BB so I might try one of the other corns. Thanks again and love the email addy.

-- LaDena Johnson (kjohnson@wcnet.net), February 28, 2001.

Jenny Lind muskmelons (cantaloupe) are the best you'll ever eat.

-- (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.

My poultry prefer bloody butcher over anything else. If I throw cobs of multiple types to them they all fight over the BB and go pick up the rest later. Pinetree and Sandhill are excellent sources.

-- William in Wi (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), March 01, 2001.

Do any of you use the Bloody Butcher for cornmeal? I got a pack of seeds from Sand Hill this year, just as an experiment.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.


I love Bloody Butcher corn. The kernals have a nice floury center, and it is absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite ways to use it is to pop it in a skillet like popcorn. It doesn't pop, but it makes fine cornuts, with a much cornier flavor than the store bought kind. I would imagine it would make lovely cornbread.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), March 01, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ