A quick question about corn

[pb1uk]

Hello,

Hope you're all well. Please pardon my question as it may seem a little trivial.

My wife got me a few packs of seeds for Christmas of things that we a bit unusual that we wouldn't normally grow, among them was a packet of 'Ornamental Corn - Zea Mays' link ( Ornamental Corn Zea Mays (Eden Project) | Seeds by Post ).

My question is, are these edible and if so would they taste any good?!? They were amongst the fruit and veg seeds but say Ornamental so i'm caught in 2 minds and the packet doesn't give any clues

Thanks in advance

[Matt94]

Well I've just looked it up for you, apparently it's not the best variety to eat fresh as it may be tough and not as sweet as regular corn, however they do say they are good for grinding up!

[legume]

Not one I am familiar with, but having done a quick bit of research, I would say no.

It seems to be grown a lot in the US for its highly ornamental foliage and corn cobs, but is not edible. However, you can use the cobs for creating very striking dried 'flower' arrangements. :-)

Here's a link: New Flowers|Vegetables|Herbs|Edibles|Garden

[veggiechicken]

Does this help? http://www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/introsheets/orncorn.pdf

[legume]

On further enquiry, it seems you can use it successfully to make popcorn! We're all round to yours with the drinks and DVDs then...

[VirginVegGrower]

But we don't know where they live!

[veggiechicken]

Some people will go anywhere for popcorn

[VirginVegGrower]

Some people will go anywhere for popcorn

I've heard that about you xxx

[veggiechicken]

Who'd been spreading these evil rumours about me? I'll set my stuffed koala onto them.........

[Feral007]

Your stuffed koala? Well I have an unstuffed koala that will eat twice as much popcorn as your stuffed one! So there!

Sorry, I dont know about ornamential I'm growing the traditional ones and hoping for the best with them

[veggiechicken]

My stuffed koala is purely ornamental - like the corn

[poly]

They look fun, sounds like they are good for using as decoration. Eating - I'd try one fresh, you will get a fair idea of how they will taste cooked, don't let them go over mature though or they will be really starchy. As they are a traditional corn rather than a sweet corn, you'll need to get them picked and and cooking as quickly as possible, before the sugars turn to starch. You could always try letting them fully ripen and grinding them for using as a flour corn and if that doesn't work, as suggested see if they make a popping corn!

[pb1uk]

Thank you for your replies really appreciate the advice.

Definitely like the sound of home grown pop corn If you're in the East Mids feel free to pop in for a bowl later in the year - you may have to fight 2 dogs and a cat for some (and a chair!).

Like the idea of grinding up and dotting in amongst the flowers too, certainly sound that they'll be fun