Drying corn for seed

[Laura]

I have blue corn this year, and didn't tend to it well.

I would like to take the ears I did get, and turn them into seed for next year.
I had to pull them off the stalks, because something was eating the ears.
I stripped the husks off and put them in my dry basement.

How do I turn this into seeds I can plant next year??
Thanks

[Anon001]

It depends on whether they matured before you picked it. The basement may not be the best place for it, since most basements tend to be damp even if they are dry.

Also, most corn for seed is left on the stalk until it dries down.

[sbemt456]

Hi Laura, we had the same problem last year with racoons and critters eating our corn that we always use for corn meal. We had to pick it early or we would not have any. When we picked it, the corn was well beyond the stage of using it for sweet corn. Not quite hard enough to shell but too hard to eat. I dried it and used it for our cornmeal and saved some for seed corn for this year and it was fine. Some stalks now over 12 ft tall with 2 ears to the stalk. I agree with Paul that the basement is not a good place to dry it. If it is hard enough to shell, I think I would shell it and put it out on screens or some surface in the sun that allows air circulation to dry completely. Or even on the cob in a single layer in the sun or another building that is dry and airy. Otherwise you may have some mold start on the cob at the base of the kernels.
And with the corn we use for cornmeal, once it is completely dry, I put in an old clean pillow case and put the whole thing in the freezer for about a week to deter any bugs from hatching. If you are using it just for seed, you can keep it in the freezer till time to plant again. Hope this helps some.

Have a great day!

stella

[AlchemyAcres]

Good advice....

Once the ears are dry and before hand shelling, it's best to snap off the tip of the ear, those kernels can be immature and not good for seed.

If you do choose to freeze the kernels, make sure that they are thoroughly dry or there's the risk of cell damage in the freezer.

Something else to be mindful of....

If there was other corn growing in the area, especially within a mile or so up-wind, and you haven't taken steps to isolate by bagging and hand pollinating, your seed may not grow true-to-type next year.

I'd hate to see you put all the time and effort into growing seed that's potentially crossed and not at all what you are expecting.

~Martin

[Laura]

OOOOO I never thought about the pollination.

I am surrounded by corn fields this year.

So best bet is to pitch the corn, buy new seed, and start from scratch next year?

thanks so much
laura

[NCLee]

Laura, if you could still cut open the kernnels with your thumb nail, it isn't likely that you'll be able to use it for seed. Don't know if the germ actually matured enough to sprout next year.

Others made good points about maturity, storage, pollination, etc.

My suggestion is to go ahead and get a good supply of new seed corn. At least enough for 2 years worth of planting. Save half in glass containers in a dark, cool, dry, place.

If you'd like to experiment with the seed you've saved, plant them as far as you can away from your new seed. (That's why I've suggested 2 years worth of stored seed.) If your saved seed are successful, chances are the hybrids will also cross with your new seed corn, unless you take precautions as previously noted. You'll get a second chance with your 2nd year's worth of seed, if you don't like what happens.

And, a further note. It may be harder to obtain the blue corn seed, if the economy forces the current suppliers out of business. That 2nd year's worth is a good backup plan. In fact you now have me thinking about doing the same thing.

BTW, almost forgot. Once your corn is dry, you can do a germination test. Google to see how you do that for corn. Generally to do that you put seeds between moistened paper towels and keep in a warm dark place to see if they will sprout. Do google to get more specific info.

Lee

[pcrowder]

As far as storage, I agree that the basement is not the best place - too damp. I store stuff I need to keep dry up in the closet in a north facing room in the attic, although one room (west/south facing) is way too hot in the summer to store things. Another idea - how about your bedroom closet? Most closets (as long as they're away from a bathroom) are pretty dry places.