Last summer, when we discovered that we could, indeed, grow sweet corn in our garden at work, I began talking up the legendary sweet corn from Illinois. NEXT year, I told my colleagues, NEXT year, I told the 'individuals' who participated in the gardening project, NEXT year, we will grow ILLINI EXTRASWEET!
So, in May, while in Bloomington, IL, visiting my daughter and her husband, I trotted down to the A & B Hatchery (a former chicken hatchery, really!) and bought an ounce or two of corn seed. Felt almost illicit bringing it out of state.
In early June, we prepared the rows to plant. When I produced the sacred seed, one co-worker asked in a worried tone, "We're not planting Silver Queen?". Silver Queen is the stuff sold at the farmstands, proudly proclaimed on hand-written signs. "No", I replied, "We are planting the BEST sweetcorn in the world. Illini Xtra Sweet!".
Secretly, I wondered if there was some magical synergy between the seed and Illinois' incredible rich, black soil that made it taste so good. Would it really grow in the anemic looking, reddish clay-prone soil of Maryland?
It jumped from the ground in a few days, and took off. A small panic arose in me when Japanese beetles infested the silks...this did not happen with the Silver Queen. Maybe the corn was so sweet that it attracted pests!
When I left for Floyd Fest, the corn was nearly mature. I awakened at nite in the tent and worried that it would be overgrown and starchy before I got back to initiate the harvest.
The day I returned to work, we bagan picking, cooking, and eating the corn. I am pleased and relieved to report that everyone who has tried it has agreed--"That was the best sweet corn I've ever had!"
I told them so.
Now, to introduce it to the community garden at Solterra...
My only fear now is that the NCAA will force the name to be changed to something that does not represent an extinct tribe of Native Americans. Prairie Dog Extra Sweet, perhaps?
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