DairyGoatInfo
Photobucket
News:
 
*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. February 05, 2012, 08:43:56 AM


Login with username, password and session length


Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: How to save Seed Corn  (Read 172 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Narrow Chance
Third Freshener
********
Offline Offline

Posts: 529


Wiggins, MS


WWW
« on: August 28, 2010, 11:05:23 AM »

Seeds must be heirloom.. and not contain GMO / Monsanto/ DNA etc. etc.  Against the law to grow and harvest for seed. (Like everything else that is illegal.
Now that we have that legal statement out of the way.

To harvest corn.. let the whole corn ears stay on the stalk.  Look for large ears.. that look well filled out.. and leave those for seed, (Sept and first part of Oct in our area, depending on when you planted) if your gathering to eat for harvest. 
The silks and the shuck must be dry.. with the ear turning toward the ground.  Pick and check to see if the corn is dry and hard.  To check to see if completely dry.. it will shell off the cob easily.  If it doesn't.. peal the shuck off and let dry in a cool dry place for a few days. 
Save the biggest.. best, MOST FILLED OUT ears for seed. 
Start at either end and shell off about an inch of the small round 'nubbin' kernel's.. you will notice when you get to the good ones.  Do the same thing to the other end. 
Then shell off the good stuff into another flat pan or cookie sheet. 
When you have what you want to keep.. let dry a few more days.  The moisture needs to be completely gone before freezing.. or it will swell and burst the seed making it useless when planting.
At this point.. you do not need to freeze the seed.. but to kill any weevil, worms, or their eggs.. freezing kills them.  Place in plastic bag and put into freezer for at least 2 weeks.
Note:  Most weevil, worms.. etc that you see in your stored flour and such were already there when you sealed the container.  You more or less shut them up in their own food supply.  If your storing any wheat, flour, rice.. etc.  you need to remove the 'varmint's' before sealing them in their and your food supply.

Remove the bag from the freezer.. open slightly and let come to room temperature.. and any moisture or condensation evaporate.  We usually leave open on the table under a ceiling fan overnight.  Moisture will cause the seed to mold or mildew when vacuumed.
Now you can vacuum your seeds.  OR  place in brown paper bags or envelopes for storage.  Unless they are stored where weevil, ants.. etc can get them.. they will be good until next year.

PS : Any corn that was not used for seed makes great milled cornbread!! (parts from the ends of the ears)   
We just milled some heirloom red corn.. and OMG.. was it ever so good as corn sticks!! 
Logged

Rett Clark
Narrow Chance
Nubians
Wiggins, MS
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.15 :: SMF hosting by SiteGround :: SMF © 2006-2008, Simple Machines

Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS! Dilber MC Theme by HarzeM