The garden looks like a small child with his front teeth missing. You look out over it, and recognise something is different, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. But it is quite a fundamental change. One of the biggest features of the summer season has gone.
The sweetcorn is no more. With much reluctance I harvested the ears and removed the stalks. I hate this bit because they are such a prominent feature in the landscape of my garden and all the while they are waving there tasselled tops, summer is in full swing. They start off quite insignificant and other crops race ahead to fill the garden. The tomatoes and the peas tower above them. They steadily grow while the peas come and go and the tomatoes reach their desired height and focus more on adorning their baubles in bright colours.
Finally, the day comes when it is time to harvest this majestic crop. It does come bitter sweet as the there is great joy in the sweet and incredible flavour that comes from this cheerful crop. A single cob of corn can bring the sunshine into a cold winter day. Eaten straight off the BBQ steamed in its husk makes a summer evening memorable. But it is also tinged with sadness, taking down the corn is a harbinger of doom… summer is nearly over.
Having said that, there is still corn in the garden. There are a few in my teaching garden, the one I grow alongside those who garden alongside me. There is a thicket of poorly spaced corn that were heeled in to a spot in my leafy greens bed, waiting for a friend to take them, but it never happened and so they’re still there. There is also the popcorn in the odds and sods bed. I had to wrap string around the lot as the stormy wind of the other night had them leaning off in a jaunty angle which wouldn’t do for the pollen falling upon the silks. And of course we can’t forget my Painted Mountain corn in the pumpkin patch. I’m so looking forward to trying these.
As I begun the task of removing the stalks the kids saw just how much fun it was to bash the root ball against the fork to remove all the dirt, they got stuck in and took over the job. I raced ahead of them removing ears and loosening stalks as they enthusiastically yanked the remains of the crop from the warm earth.
The choicest ears had already been removed and devoured greedily, or grabbed hastily moments before heading away for the weekend. Fear of theft by the rat had prompted this frenzied harvesting, and with only a tiny window of time before we had to leave. As Hubby the Un-Gardener was calling “Honey we are going to be late” and starting to beep the car horn, I snatched the plumpest cobs and lobbed them straight into the deep freeze – husk and all. I hope they’ll be ok. Wouldn’t it be a complete tragedy if in an effort to save them I actually caused their loss.
So as the sun begun to set on the garden it would seem summer is beginning to set for the season. It hasn’t been the best of seasons, but it is the one I’ve had and I’ve made the best of it and have actually have had quite a good harvest.
Come again soon – that harvest is in desperate need of processing.
Sarah the Gardener : o)
I’ve had to freeze my corn in the husk to kill corn worms. Once we thawed the corn husks out, the corn tasted great. The husk acted as insulation in the freezer. Hopefully yours will turn out well, too.
Phew! Fortunately, on the ones I did peel and bag, there were no corn worms this year. Man I hate them – they are so disgusting!
Cheers Sarah : o)
Awesome update thank you for sharing Sarah blessing to you as well
Thanks Linda. Have a fab week. : o)
It is quite a difference on your landscape. I can almost taste the corn from your description. I also like how the children are having a good time with that root ball. Getting rid of them can really be hard on older hands. I also enjoyed seeing your flowers in the corners. Neat! As for corn worms, mentioned by modernmia, you can also flush them out by soaking your cleaned cobs in a bucket of cold salted water. I leaned that trick from someone who was growing broccoli. Happy Gardening to you all!!
Hi Lucinda. It is almost like summer is encapsulated in sweetcorn. I don’t think I’d ever not grow it.
The marigolds are supposed to deter bugs. I’m not sure how effective it is, but it makes things look pretty and there wasn’t any of the horrible corn worms this year, so maybe it does work a little.
It was great for the kids to help out – as they get older the less they want to get involved in the garden.
Cheers Sarah : o)
It does seem that summer goes by in a flash, especially where the garden is concerned. I often feel this way with the sunflowers. They get taller and taller and taller and at last, the bloom. The bees get busy then, the birds nibble away at the leaves and then…done.
Your crop looks amazing. I hope all those ears survive the deep freeze. Nothing says summer like corn of the grill with a bit of garlic.
I do love having sweetcorn in the garden. It really wouldn’t be the same without it. But is does have this terrible habit of highlighting the passing of summer! Never mind – Each season has something special to offer.
Cheers Sarah : o)
That it does!