{"product_id":"corn-sweet-country-gentleman","title":"Corn Seeds - Sweet - Country Gentleman","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"aonsk-product-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry Gentleman is the old-fashioned white sweet corn with kernels packed in an irregular shoepeg pattern instead of neat rows. The tender ears have a creamy texture and a rich corn flavor that shines when picked and cooked the same day. Tall plants produce seven- to eight-inch ears and often form side shoots. This late nineteenth-century favorite rewards patient gardeners with a summer harvest suited to fresh meals, creaming and preserving while the kernels are still milky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eClassic white shoepeg corn, best enjoyed freshly picked.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing facts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zea mays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaturity or display:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 90 days from sowing to fresh sweet-corn harvest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plants about 6-8 ft tall; ears 7-8 in long\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12 in between plants; rows 36 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the variety\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry Gentleman entered commerce around 1890 and became known as a shoepeg sweet corn because of its deep, irregularly arranged kernels. It is a traditional sugary, open-pollinated type whose sweetness declines after picking as sugars convert to starch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStarting seed\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSow 1.5 in. deep after frost in soil at least 65 F. Sprouts in 7-10 days. Thin to 12 in.; rows 36 in. Plant four or more short rows; water well through silking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare through the season\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant several adjacent short rows to keep windblown pollen within the crop. Control weeds while plants are young and maintain moisture through tasseling, silking and kernel fill. Feed according to a soil test; do not remove healthy side shoots simply because they appear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHarvest and use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick when silks brown and plump kernels release milky juice. Cook promptly or chill at once. For seed, leave selected ears to harden and dry; isolate other corn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSaving seed\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn readily crosses through windblown pollen. Separate varieties by adequate distance or by flowering periods that do not overlap; nearby large fields can overwhelm a small planting. Keep seed from many healthy, representative plants rather than one favorite ear to maintain diversity. Let seed ears become fully mature and dry, finish drying under cover, and label the cleaned seed with variety and year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon problems\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoor pollination or moisture stress can leave gaps in the ears. Watch for cutworms, corn earworms and stalk damage, and protect ripening ears from birds and wildlife. Rotate planting sites, keep the crop evenly watered, and dry harvested ears with good airflow to prevent mold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is it ready?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 90 days from sowing to fresh sweet-corn harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy plant in a block?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWind carries pollen from tassels to the silks. Several short rows together give more complete kernel set than an isolated long row.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I save seed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn readily crosses through windblown pollen. Separate varieties by adequate distance or by flowering periods that do not overlap; nearby large fields can overwhelm a small planting. Keep seed from many healthy, representative plants rather than one favorite ear to maintain diversity. Let seed ears become fully mature and dry, finish drying under cover, and label the cleaned seed with variety and year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Alliance of Native Seedkeepers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52508630483246,"sku":"CN54","price":2.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.allianceofnativeseedkeepers.com\/products\/corn-sweet-country-gentleman","provider":"Alliance of Native Seedkeepers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}