Seed testing for germination rate on dent corn. Here's the "cheap" Tumbledown method recommended by a farming friend. All you need is an old sock and a selection from the lot of seed corn you want to plant. Here I'm testing two lots for viability. 50 seeds each. Example: if two kernels of the yellow do not germinate, then the germination rate would be 100 - 2X2 = 96%
50 kernels of Reid's Yellow Dent (from last year's seed ears, kept in the shock outside over winter) and 50 kernels of Hopi Blue Dent saved for a couple of years from a previous planting. Ready to roll up and secure with a rubber band.
A Tumbledown Farmer's "cheap" way of testing the germination rate of field corn. All rolled up now. Soak the sock in water and keep it moist for a week or two, then unroll it and count the ungerminated kernels.
Reid's Yellow Dent a little more than a week into the germination test. Only five grains show complete lack of germination. Five show swelling and bulging of the seed wall consistent with germination. The other 40 sprouted completely, thus yielding a germination rate of 90%.
The Hopi Blue Dent corn did even better in the germination trial. Only three grains show complete lack of germination. One shows partial germination. All the rest sprouted completely, thus yielding a 94% germination rate.
Reid's Yellow Dent open-pollinated field corn.
An ear of Reid's Yellow Dent, open-pollinated field corn.
Using a corn sheller to remove the kernels from a cob of Reid's Yellow Dent field corn.
Using a Porkert hand mill to grind corn meal.
After grinding corn once, the cornmeal must be sifted to remove the larger particles. Either re-grind the particles that are too large or feed them to the rabbits and chickens.
Corn Husker straps onto your wrist. Use the metal points to rip the husk with one hand, while you hold the ear with the other. Then just pop the ear out of the husk. So easy someone from Nebraska could do it.
Corn Sheller for field corn.
Corn blown over in fierce rain storm. Wind always blows down garden corn. It'll right itself by itself. Not to worry.
Corn emerging in the lowest, wettest part of Tumbledown Farm, in a section of easement at the base of the hill.
