Comments on: Gardening Catalogue Deluge; What to Plant?

By: Gail

Gail — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:36:20 +0000

I’m SO glad I stumbled upon your blog. I’ve been looking for some good gardening blogs. I’m SO addicted to gardening. I can’t get the inside of my house clean because I live outside. I’m out of room…just like you. I have a very small back yard. I want more veggies but I love my flowers. I want prettier, more unique flowers but don’t know what to plant because I’ve only been gardening for two years. I have a fall garden planted right now but I’m not “feeling” it. I miss the butterflies and hummingbirds….and the colors. I hate the gnats…they’re TERRIBLE! I can’t remember, as I write this, where you are located. I’m in zone 8 (GA). I’ll read more of your blog tonight after I’m through in the yard. Maybe I will get some ideas from you. I do know that we’ve tried corn twice and didn’t have any luck with it. We got a few baby ears. I’m going to plant some gourmet garlic in mid October. That should be interesting.

I can’t wait to come back and read more!

By: Rees Cowden

Rees Cowden — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:22:59 +0000

Hey Chris, I’m glad I ran across your site and I share your pain about running out of space for plants. Whenever I run across something new I want to plant I have to decide what I want to get rid of..haha..sometines nature helps me out by identifying the weak ones. On getting edible corn from your four stalks, it is unlikely without assistance but quite possible if you are willing to help mother nature. Each morning and evening( or more frequently) as you see the male flower(top of the stalk) plant start to open take a small paintbrush and try to tease some of the pollen onto the brush and then shake/rub it onto the silks, preferably of the plant next to it. This takes some time and you may need to repeat it for a couple of weeks but hey you can’t beat fresh sweet corn. Eat it right off the stalk or if you must cook it have the water boiling and then pull it off the plant….ahh so good!

By: Brent

Brent — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:44:50 +0000

I had trouble with the crows last year after planting my sweet corn. I am going to have to get a scare crow this year and see if I have better luck.

By: Brandy Shingary

Brandy Shingary — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:14:56 +0000

I also like to grow a few stalks of corn. Last year we tried the 3 sisters method of planting corn, beans and squash together, which didn’t work well but I may try it again just to see if I can get it to come out right.

By: ohya

ohya — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:19:02 +0000

True you might not get the harvest but you will definitely get stalks which can be dried and used as fall decoration.

Im gonna give it a go this year (just 6 plants) let me know if you have a particular variety in mind for urban gardens.

Also to the point of this post I too am looking for a good resource for planting scheduling. My goal is to have more then one harvest this year, by putting a little planning into this I think I can do it.

-m

By: Administrator

Administrator — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:13:37 +0000

Well, I don’t plan to get bushels and bushels of corn, we wouldn’t be able to eat that much. If get 1 meal’s worth per stalk I’m happy. Although I’m toying with the idea of pulling up a row of ditch lilies on the south side of my house and doing corn there instead, but I’m not sure how well it’ll do up against a structure.

By: Carol

Carol — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:49:54 +0000

Four stalks of corn? I doubt you will see many ears of corn from your four stalks, as corn is wind pollinated. I grow a 4′ x 8′ bed of corn and even that is barely enough to get some good ears.
If you are getting good ear formation with four stalks, I’d like to know your secret!

You are right that there is nothing sweeter than fresh picked sweet corn, and absolutely the water should already be boiling when you pick it.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens