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Post by spacecase0 on Sept 9, 2018 17:51:49 GMT -5
so I was wondering if anyone here knows of a popcorn that pops with no hard core. I can go buy popcorn as a microwave type with no hard core at all, but can't seem to figure out what corn I can grow does that (need it without the horrible chemicals it comes with). tried the Japanese hulless popcorn this year and it has a harder core than the standard popcorn I get in the grocery store. so, anyone have any ideas of what kind to try next ?
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Post by spacecase0 on Sept 13, 2018 1:06:23 GMT -5
ok, so I asked a plant breeder this question after no replies here, and the answer I got back was fascinating turns out that pop corn as most people know it is kind of new, before people like Orville Redenbacher, pop corn was lots like sorghum that popped, maybe half of it pops and the rest ends up sort of like parched corn... so reading the wiki page on Orville Redenbacher en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Redenbacherit glosses over how one would select for corn that popps well and past that, I can't seem to find any one I have ever met that grows popcorn for personal use. so, I guess that my best bet here is to try stabling one of the commercial popcorns I buy and hope that I figure out what individual kernels make for the best popping. kind of amazed that I can't find any one trying this before, then again when I look for waxy corn (also called stick corn), it is only outside the USA that I find any seeds for sale at all. not that is related to popcorn seeds other than horrible availability, seems that the keys to industry are locked up quite well. then again I would guess that my internet searches are filtered pretty well lately. anyone here have good workable seeds for either one ?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 1:59:30 GMT -5
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 13, 2018 10:47:35 GMT -5
spacecase0 , Joseph Lofthouse put quite a bit of effort into developing landrace popcorn several years ago. He wrote several articles in Mother Earth News in 2013 about his landrace development efforts, and at least two articles were specifically about popcorn: www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/landrace-gardening-growing-popcorn-cbcz1308 and www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/landrace-popcorn-popping-zbcz1308. Unfortunately, he seems to be working with other types of corn now (sweet, grain, flour) now, and doesn't have popcorn in his current seed list on his website. But I know he has worked with and communicates with other landrace gardeners and farmers, so maybe one of them will have seeds for a popcorn landrace that you can adapt to your area and your goal of not having a hard core in your popcorn. Adapting a landrace to the demands of your area might be faster than trying to stabilize a commercial hybrid. His contact info is on his website if you want to try to reach him and see if he can/will point you to someone. I know he also used to participate on some other forum(s) but I can't remember his handle or which forum(s) it was. Maybe someone else here knows and can show you where he's posted about this? Hope this helps!
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Post by brownrexx on Sept 13, 2018 10:59:41 GMT -5
I know he also used to participate on some other forum(s) but I can't remember his handle or which forum(s) it was. Maybe someone else here knows and can show you where he's posted about this? He posts on Tomatoville as Joseph.
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Post by farmerjack41 on Sept 13, 2018 22:32:07 GMT -5
Do not recall where I purchased popcorn seed a number of years ago. Grew and sold popcorn left on the cob, to be popped while still on the cob. Best way was to put the cob in a brown paper bag, tape it shut and put it in the microwave. Worked very well, and sold very well. In fact to well, the market grew too much and became too much work. Could have spent some money and enlarged the packing and storage facilities, but probably not a good idea given my age. Seems like the seed came from Johnny's, but not sure. Can look it up when get back home the end of weekend. It was quite good popcorn. Also shelled and sold some in bulk.
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Post by Gianna on Sept 14, 2018 1:49:03 GMT -5
I grew some very fluffy, light, crispy, white popcorn a few years ago. It was very good. I had to do some searches to find it, but in the end, I found it in several places. Don't remember it's name unfortunately.
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Post by spacecase0 on Sept 15, 2018 18:32:04 GMT -5
thank you all
the strawberry one is reported to me by a friend that grew it to have about half the kernels pop...
I know how to contact Joseph Lofthouse, thank you for the links
farmerjack41, I have seen popcorn marketed on the cob like that, would love to know its name.
sounds like there is hope for growing popcorn yet.
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Post by paquebot on Sept 16, 2018 13:08:25 GMT -5
Had strawberry years ago and never had a popping problem. As with any variety, any problems are from improper storing. Best one in recent years was an unknown with uniform 5" ears. It may have been one of the hybrids from Jung's Also grew their ornamental "Pretty Pops" mixes in 2012. Small kernels but good tasting.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by spacecase0 on Sept 16, 2018 19:29:28 GMT -5
if it is mostly in the storage and proper moisture, and after reading what Joseph found playing with it...
I already have seeds for the strawberry popcorn, would still like the larger cobs if anyone remembers what they were, from the description I likely bought about 10 of them and they are in cold storage, but 10 is likely not enough for genetic diversity. Have lost corn types with a starting point of more than that. suppose I could mix in something else and then select it out. guess I am tired of multiple year projects where I could have just bought seeds somewhere for $20
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Post by farmerjack41 on Sept 16, 2018 21:38:31 GMT -5
SpacecaseO. Checked on the popcorn seed. Was purchased from Harris seed. Labeled as. Top Pop. PopcornF1 . Item #1162-00-01. Was nice corn, stocks about 5 to 6 ft, usually one 8" ear and one about 5" per stock. Have seed if could send some to you.
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Post by spacecase0 on Sept 18, 2018 13:43:17 GMT -5
it is an F1, then no issues with lack of genetic diversity... thank you for looking up the name for me.
will have to think about this for a while.
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reubent
Pro Member
Posts: 389
Joined: May 2011
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Post by reubent on Dec 21, 2019 18:18:46 GMT -5
many years ago I grew a mini size popcorn, very small ears and tiny kernels. Think I got it from seeds of change before they changed hands and stopped catalog sales. it had a lot of diversity, random multi colored, some ears all one color, with a few ears of pod corn. I don't remember how much hard residue there was but the outstanding thing was it's flavor, such a rich delicious corn flavor. Delicious just to eat it with no seasoning, not even salt. makes regular hybrid popcorn taste like it's not much better than styrofoam. The flavor is indicative of the mineral density. It was able to pick up and pack into the kernels much more nutrition than the larger modern corns can do. I'd like to grow some again. Maybe I can get to it next year. Going to try to do a lot more gardenin, gettin fed up with store bought food.
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