Tom Thumb, organic seeds
Eco
Information
Tom Thumb yields small dense cobs with lots of kernels on each. This is an improved strain of old American pop-corn maize. The plants are small, about 1 m, bearing 1-2 cobs which are 8-10 cm long. This is a extra early pop-corn maize and the plants can be grown closer together (15-20 cm) and ripen without protection in the southern parts of this country (Sweden). Further north it is safer to grow seedlings for setting out. The cobs should be allowed to remain on the stalk as long as possible in autumn (they can take ab. -1o C. of frost) and allowed to dry further indoors. The Tom Thumb seeds are small but still yield decently large pop-corn. A portion contains about 35 seeds.
| Product number: | 3080 |
|---|---|
| Scientific name: | Zea mays var. everta |
| Botanic family: | The Grass Family - Poaceae |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Days to maturity: | 85 |
| Lifespan: | Annual |
| F1 Hybrid: | No |
| New variety: | No |
| Sowing time: | Pre-cultivate: April–May |
| Sowing depth: | 3–5 cm |
| Germination time: | 6–10 days |
| Plant spacing: | 20–30 cm |
| Row spacing: | Single rows 70–80 cm, double rows 10–20 cm |
| Height: | 100 cm |
| Plant location: | Sun |
| Harvest/blooming: | August–September |
| Seeds/g: | 3–5 seeds |
| Heirloom variety: | No |
Cultivation advice
Sowing
Sow indoors or in a hotbed, about 4 cm deep, 3 weeks before planting outdoors and keep a temperature of around 25°C during germination. Lower the temperature after sprouting to prevent lanky seedlings. If the seed was scattered, pot on the plants to separate pots, when they have grown 5-10 cm tall.Corn is affected by frost, so do not set out the plants outdoors until the risk of frost is over and the soil has warmed up. Corn can be sown directly outdoors in southerly, warm places in Central Sweden. The temperature of the soil must be at least 15°C otherwise untreated seeds will rot. Covering with fibre-cloth before and during sprouting raises the temperature a few degrees.
Spacing
Keep 20-30 cm between the plants and 70-80 cm between the rows or cultivate in double rows of 10-15 cm between every second row.Harvest
Corn is ready for harvest when the silky threads have wilted, the cobs grown thick and blunt and the seeds are pale yellow. When pressing a nail into a grain of corn a somewhat viscous, milk-white juice emerges. The cobs for pop-corn maize should remain until they are really ripe.Seed
Normally 3-5 seeds/g one portion yields 20-25 excellent seedlings for setting out. 200 g sows 100 m.A portion contains about 35 seeds.
