| 'Shoepeg', also known as 'Country Gentleman' Corn, is an heirloom variety, probably the most likely heirloom to appear in supermarkets. The stalks of this variety grow 6 to 7 feet tall, and yield 8 inch ears with narrow white kernels arranged in zigzags rather than rows. Corn is ready 90-100 days after sowing. Originally domesticated by Mesoamericans, it is a staple food with many other traditional uses. Home gardeners love to grow corn, and there are many varieties suited to different climates. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in rows or clumps, two weeks after the last frost date. Corn needs rich soil, full sun and adequate moisture to produce good ears. It is wind pollinated, so if you want to save seed, you will need to either stagger the planting time of different varieties, or plant them 1/4 mile apart. Water deeply. |