Is glass gem corn rare?
Extremely rare, this unique strain of flint corn was developed by Cherokee Carl Barnes, then almost disappeared until a curious farmer came across a jar marked “Glass Gem” and planted a few in his garden. They are sold in lots of 25 because corn must be planted in clusters (not rows).
Is Glass Gem Corn real?
Yes, it’s real, and, as an heirloom, its seeds will grow true. Glass gem corn was born in Oklahoma, bred by a part-Cherokee farmer named Carl Barnes who had a knack for tinkering with corn. Naturally, the seed lover selected several of the curiously-named “glass gems” to plant in his garden.
Can glass gem corn be popped?
Glass Gem corn can easily be dried for decoration, popped for popcorn, cooked into hominy, or ground to a beautiful cornmeal.
Does glass gem corn taste good?
Glass Gem is predominantly a popcorn (a subcategory of flint corn) and can be ground into cornmeal for use in dishes such as polenta or grits, or popped. This variety was selected for its majestic beauty and colors. However, it does have good corn flavor.
Can you eat glass gem corn on the cob?
Glass Gem corn is not meant to be eaten like regular corn, though it won’t hurt you to do so. It’s what is called flint corn, and its primary purpose would normally be for corn meal or popcorn.
Who made glass gem corn?
Carl Barnes
“Glass Gem” has its own Facebook page with more than 19,000 followers, but its journey from an Oklahoma cornfield to Internet fame started with a man named Carl Barnes. Barnes wanted to explore his Cherokee roots, so he began collecting and planting ancient varieties of corn.
Can you eat glass gem corn off the cob?
Can you eat glass gem corn fresh?
Who created glass gem corn?
Its origin traces back to Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer living in Oklahoma. Barnes had an uncanny knack for corn breeding. More specifically, he excelled at selecting and saving seed from those cobs that exhibited vivid, translucent colors.
Is Rainbow sweetcorn real?
Glass Gem corn, a unique variety of rainbow-coloured corn, became an Internet sensation in 2012 when a photo of the sparkling cob was posted to Facebook. Shortly after, the company that sells the rare seeds, Native Seeds/SEARCH, began ramping up production to meet the high demand.
What is Rainbow corn?
Unlike sweet corn, rainbow corn isn’t one to eat straight off the cob. It’s a type of flint corn that has a hard outer layer, which is great to grind down into cornmeal for dishes like grits and polenta. Glass Gem corn can also be used to make popcorn, but sadly, it doesn’t come out rainbow colored.
When was glass gem corn created?
2012
Glass Gem corn, a unique variety of rainbow-colored corn, became an internet sensation in 2012 when a photo of the sparkling cob was posted to Facebook. Shortly after, the company that sells the rare seeds, Native Seeds/SEARCH, began ramping up production to meet the high demand.
What is glass gem corn an heirloom native seed?
photo by Sherwood Seeds TIL: Glass Gem is a beautiful and rare variety of heirloom corn (aka calico, flint, or “Indian” corn) that looks like candy, or maybe beads ( previously ). It was developed…
Can you eat glass gem corn?
Glass gem corn is a flint corn, so it is not usually eaten like corn on the cob. However, you can use it to make cornmeal to use in other recipes. You can also pop the kernels into popcorn. To get the kernels, you will first have to dehydrate your corn. From there, you can pop it or grind it into cornmeal.
Is corn used to make glass?
The combination produced Glass Gem corn. Greg Schoen, the botanist who ultimately created the Glass Gem corn varieties, recommends growing them in rows that are 30 inches apart. In each row, leave a gap of 6-12 inches. He says that you can also cluster 3-4 seeds in a hole, and leave a gap between clusters of 3-4 feet.
What is glass gem?
Glass gem is real, not photoshopped nor genetically modified, and just a regular open-pollinated variety that looks more like pieces of jewelry than actual corn with different shades of pink, purple, yellow, green and blue. Glass gem is also known as “Indian” or “calico” corn, and is native to North America.