Farmers to gather sweet corn

Mary Ross, of Bismarck Gardens just outside North Lawrence, looks over an ear of sweet corn Thursday. This year’s crop of sweet corn will be available beginning next week, after spring rains forced a delay in planting. Ross expects to begin selling sweet corn on Tuesday.

Lawrence Municipal Airport received 1.1 inches of rain during Wednesday’s storm, 6News Chief Meteorologist Matt Elwell said, and the southern part of Douglas County received considerably less rain. Now farmers will do their best to get back out to the fields to resume the wheat harvest as soon as they can, but the wet ground might hold them off for a few days.

Officials at the grain elevator in Baldwin City said they had seen a crop so far with test weights of 58 to 61 pounds per bushel.

“It’s starting out to look fairly decent, but any more rain on it right now will start lowering that test weight,” said Steve Wilson, owner and manager of Baldwin Feed Co.

It’s not ready yet.

Area farmers say spring rains forced a later planting — so it will be at least next week before that delicious sweet corn is available.

But patience could be a virtue for those craving sweet corn.

“I also think because of all the rain we had, it’s going to be really sweet,” said Jane Wohletz, who plants the crop southeast of Lawrence.

Wohletz, who operates Tomato Allie with her husband, Jerry Wohletz, said spring rain made the ground too wet for planting several months ago, so they put it in the ground later than normal. Sweet corn typically takes 72 days to mature, she said.

Even with the recent heat this week, it’s been a wet year in Douglas County. By Thursday afternoon, the Lawrence area was more than a half-inch ahead of normal June rainfall, and 2.84 inches ahead of the normal year, said 6News Chief Meteorologist Matt Elwell.

The wet and cooler spring weather means the sweet corn likely won’t be ready until next week at the earliest — and possibly after the Fourth of July. Farmers said the crop is typically ready in late June or early July.

Members of the Ross family, who operate Bismarck Gardens just outside North Lawrence, plan to open their gardens Monday and begin selling sweet corn on Tuesday.

John Pendleton, of Pendleton Country Market east of Lawrence, said the hot weather the last few days has helped the growth of many crops in the area, especially sweet corn. “Anything that didn’t die from drowning is honestly probably in halfway decent shape,” he said.

KansasPerson 8 years, 1 month ago

The way I was longing for sweet corn these past couple of days, I feel like I want to be first in line at Bismarck Gardens on Tuesday! :)

c_dubya 8 years, 1 month ago

Checkers had some good corn recently, but it's real hit and miss.

I'm with you KansasPerson - I'm thinking of camping out Monday night. To a real fanatic like me sweet corn season beats March Madness!

jfcm77 8 years, 1 month ago

I love football!

We can all wait in line together. Have a J-W Commenter party. Or camp out the night before, roast hotdogs, make smores, and sing around the campfire. ;)

bearded_gnome 8 years, 1 month ago

kansasperson, you got that right! we could have the alfred packer band, some local indians to do the harvest dance, games and giveaways.

this local corn, eaten fresh, is the food of the gods, the most wonderful food.

personally, I think if we invited the wackos that run Iran to come and eat this corn with us, peace would break out. some of this corn was shipped to northern ireland that led to the peace agreement there.

sweet local corn, Bismarck Gardens, the Pendletons' and all the others, we appreciate what you do and look forward to this each year! one of the best things about lawrence.

note that quantrill didn't attack lawrence when the corn crop was just starting.

KatWrangler 8 years, 1 month ago

Pass the butter!

Leslie Swearingen 8 years, 1 month ago

I love sweet corn, with plenty of real butter on it, so it drips down your chin.

Satirical 8 years, 1 month ago

Count me in for the campout too!

hey Sat, we could all sing camping songs too.

oh bring on the corn!

hawklet21 8 years, 1 month ago

I got some corn from Dillon's a few weeks ago and was happy enough with it... I can't WAIT until this stuff is ready!! It doesn't even need butter. It's good enough on its own!

mdrndgtl 8 years, 1 month ago

Whoa... An entire article about sweet corn...

Just 72 more hours until Sweet Corn Kickoff!

Who's bringing the smores ingredients? :)

GardenMomma 8 years, 1 month ago

I love the sweet corn with homemade butter. It's the best. Especially grilled sweet corn. Yum, yum! Can't wait.

pace 8 years, 1 month ago

love fresh sweet corn, I anticipate the home grown ripe from the plant big fat red tomatoes. Tomorrow I will cook fresh green beans with new potatoes (from North Lawrence, North street) with some bacon.

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Archive for Friday, June 26, 2009