How to dry corn when picked?

[zukgod]

I have a question for you all. I am thinking of planting extra corn this year to help feed the chickens and goats next winter. How do I dry it out for storage? I have always just canned it for the family or froze it for later eating. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Josh

[Ole Man Legrand]

I just let it air dry on the stalk before I pick it . Shuck it and Store it where plenty of air can get around it.

[zukgod]

Does it mold on the stalk? Also do you have to cut the stock to get it to dry out? Thanks for any info.

Josh

[Bear]

Wait till fall when the cornstalk dies and turns all brown, thats the time to pick it. Like said before, store in area that has lots of air circulation, like a corncrib.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by zukgod

Does it mold on the stalk? Also do you have to cut the stock to get it to dry out? Thanks for any info.

Josh

No, it won't mold on the stalk. Where do you think grain corn comes from?

[FarmboyBill]

If you are planting open pollinated corn, around about the time that the stalks are about each 1/2 brown and 1/2 yet a bit green, go out and look at your ears of corn. When you find any that are hard pick them. When you have picked enough for next years seed, then store them somewhere where they can cointinue to dry without the shuck, like driving nails at an angle into 4 2 X 4s, and nailing them together to make a square back to back, and then building a stand so that it can stand upright, then jab the ends of the ears on the nails and let them dry. DO NOT let them get any moisture of any kind. It is said to pick twice as much as you think you need. Then in the dead of winter go out and take each ear, cut off the ends till all you have left is the center with the plump full seeds. shell them by hand, and store them in bags, and theres your seed corn for next year. Do that for 3 years, and with planting by the right signs youll have a better yield. CORN CRIB. Mine cost me nothing, as I had many used concrete blocks. I used 4 of them, and spaced them out 4ft apart. Then I laid 2 RR ties on them. Then I laid 4 to 6 3 X 4 timbers crosswise of the RR ties. Then I laid old particle board crossways on them. Then I laid old tin roofing on them IN THE DIRECTION OF WHERE i WOULD BE SCOOPING THE CORN FROM. Then I took pallets and ringed the floor, 4 (i think) to a side, on end, and wired them together. Then I ran 2 X 4s in the middle side pallets upright and wired them toghether say a foot higher than the pallets, then I did the same with the front 2 side pallets with the 2 X 4s 2ft higher than the front pallets and wired them to the pallets, then I ran 3 X 4s crossways in the middle and front and wired them at the top ends to the 2 X 4s. Then I laid particle boards across the back pallets up to the middle 2 X 4s, and laid another row across the front 2 X 4s back to the middle 2 X 4s. Then I laid 3 X 4s across the back particle boards above the pallets, across the 3 particle boards on top of the middle 3 X 4, and over the particle boards laying on the top 3 X 4s I wired the ends top 3 X 4s with the bottom 3 X 4s to hold the particle board in place, and it was finished. Course you could use any wire small enough in mesh to keep the ears from falling out in a circle and do the same thing. Always have the floor up above ground so that your cats can patrol under the floor with ease, and if you use pallets make sure that the gaps are no bigger than 2 to 3in. Good luck

[MWG]

Originally Posted by tinknal

No, it won't mold on the stalk. Where do you think grain corn comes from?

Some of mine did last year. I think it has to do with haveing super sweets. I don't know much about it, but someone told me those will mold if left on the stalk to dry. Like I said, not an expert, but that is what happened to me last year.

[zukgod]

Originally Posted by tinknal

No, it won't mold on the stalk. Where do you think grain corn comes from?

I don't know that's why I asked. Thanks to everyone I think I have a decent idea one how to take care of it. I would just like to use all my corn instead of tossing it in the compost or giving it all away. So now I can store it for my animals. Have a great afternoon.

[Christiaan]

I've dried regular sweet corn by opening the husk, tying a string around the stem and hanging them in a shed or barn until well dried. When dried I shuck it and bag it in ziplock sandwich bags, 4 to 6 oz. I sell it as chigas to a local latin market for $1.50/ounce. Its great in posole as a change from hominy.

[wwubben]

Let the sweet corn dry on the stalk.Pickit.Shell it by hand. store it in the freezer or air tight containers and put some in with your pop corn when you pop it. This adds to the pop corn enjoyment.

[keljonma]

Last autumn, we dried our sweet corn in the dehydrator and the oven and packed it into quart ziplock bags and kept it in the pantry. You can use it for corn recipes or mix it with the chicken's scratch.