Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
A liquid feed designed for tomatoes will help the development of the cobs when
they begin to appear. Corn is a heavy feeder, and the soil will benefit from an
application of compost as soon as the corn plants are removed.
Harvesting and storage
After pollination the corn silks dry out slightly and gradually turn brown, which
is a sign that ripening has started. It's very easy to miss the right time to pick,
after which the cobs become tougher and less sweet. To see if they're ripe,
slightly open a cob and slice one of the seeds with your fingernail. If the juice is
slightly milky and tastes sweet, it's time to pick. Gently twist the cob and it will
break off without damaging the plant (this is important, as a well-fed plant some-
times bears more than one full-sized cob). The cobs begin to lose their sweetness
as soon as they are off the plant, so get them up to the kitchen as quickly as you
can. Once the ears have had the husks and silk removed, they should be trimmed
and rinsed briefly before cooking.
Corn is a good crop for freezing and keeps for many months, although super-
sweet varieties keep best. Blanch whole cobs in boiling water for four minutes (or
steam for six minutes) and then plunge them into cold water, and when cool
pack a meal's worth at a time into plastic bags for freezing, or alternatively strip
the kernels off the blanched corn with a sharp knife for open freezing and bagging.
Because of its dense core, corn on the cob is the only vegetable that should be
defrosted thoroughly before boiling, roasting or steaming.
Problems
Slugs and mice . Mice will dig up the remains of the seeds even when the plants
are 10cm tall or more. Bottle cloches (see Chapter 10, page 170) can be used to
stop them, and the bright copper tape rings around them will prevent slugs as
well. The cloches can be removed later when the plants are well established.
Tomato
Varieties: ' Latah', 'Red Cluster Pear', 'Harbinger'
Along with runner beans, tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown foods
for British gardeners, and their popularity has made them a doorway into vegetable
gardening for thousands of people.
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