I have been growing hybrid sweet corn from chemically treated seed (the only thing available at the local seed store) for the past few years. I roast as many ears as my friends and I can eat; freeze a little bit more; and the rest becomes cornmeal and chicken feed. I'd like to switch over to an open pollinated variety next year that I can save seed. Does anyone have a recommendation for a variety that can "do it all" like I am asking for? I would appreciate any ideas that people could offer. I don't need anything too exotic, just a nice performing corn. I am growing in Southern Wisconsin, zone 5. Thank you.

Charlie, your intentions are good and so is your idea. BUT... I am in southwest Wisconsin and all I see are fields and fields of GMO corn and beans. Your chances of growing unadulterated non-GMO corn from saved seed is probably nil. The specified distance is inadequate for preserving non-GMO seed viability. To be snide about it, I'm afraid that a distance of an entire state is inadequate! As it is right now, the entire country is contaminated. Sure wish there were successful legal action taken in favor of traditional non-GMO farming!

My family has raised Hickory Cane since time out of mind, we eat it for sweet corn, pickle it, make hominy, grind it for meal, and feed it to stock and it makes a lot of fodder as well!

Jerry, how does the hickory cane compare in flavor and sweetness with the peaches and cream or the silver queen? I would like to try another variety but afraid that the taste won't compare with the peaches and cream which I love. Thanks for any info on this or any other variety

You are so right, Nora. For that and other reasons I do not grow any corn at our place. I know farmers who would like to get out of this insanity of ever rising costs to grow commodities with depressed prices due to surplus production, but it is hard. Their bankers have a say and they themselves are too deeply mired in that rat race to take the necessary steps. See my letter from Aug 4 on the US Farm Report Mailbag website.

Lee, I'd say people developed hybrid sweet corn for a reason. It would be like comparing a snickers bar to an apple. But the peaches and cream or silver queen would not make good corn meal, or corn flour and would be not make hominy or good stock feed while feeding a family as well and even distilling a gallon or two of whiskey. I have raised Silver Queen in my own garden because it is sweeter. I will say though that we still grow the hickory cane because it does have a good flavor and is by far more versatile than hybrid sweet corn varieties. And I can save my own seed from year to year.

I spoke with a Mennonite farmer near me recently and we talked about OP corn vs GMO. He said that he asked a local seed man how much GMO corn he sells. He said about 50% or so of his seed sells were GMO. He said he thought that sells were falling for GMO seed as the weeds were resistant to roundup now.

Do a search for OP corn varieties. There are some new ones out now that sound promising, although none I can think of that are "all purpose". But maybe it depends on what your expectations are.

Country Gentleman is one we grow. Its heritage goes back to early 1900s, when it gained industrialised favor for canning, particularly creamed corn. It grows humongous stalks and ears, makes sweet and high protein silage and dry ears for any purpose. It won't sell at your roadside stand, unless your customers are roasting ear savvy. But we use the daylights out of it.

Thanks for all your suggestions! I am googling each variety as they appear in the thread and am looking forward to some new corn on the farm this coming season.

Tom how does the Country Gentleman shell with the irregular spaced kernels?

In this context, at the risk of advising( preaching to) the choir, have you read the book "The GMO Deception" ? Its subtitle reads " What you need to know about the food corporations, and government agencies putting our families and our environment at risk:. The book is a collection of articles and essays of a number of scientists from all over the world. Eye-opening!

The Country Gentleman is a little fussy about drying the ears, Billy. Once it's dry, shelling is easy. The shoepeg kernels come right off easily. I wouldn't try to combine it, I don't think it would ever dry enough in the field.


Good recommendation, thanks Klaus