Regional Adaptation Experiment - Volunteers Needed

14 years ago

Last summer I grew a corn called ÂNarragansett Indian Flint CornÂ. I grew this corn because it seemed an appropriate choice my attempt at a three sisters garden and because I like to help preserve regional heirloom vegetables.

Prior to growing this corn I had read and reread Carol DeppeÂs description of it in her excellent book, Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties.

"Many superb varieties are not readily available commercially because they have narrow adaptations to particular regions. ÂNarragansett Indian FlintÂ for example, is said to be the corn that was given to the Pilgrims by the Indians, the corn that made the jonnycakes that were eaten at the first Thanksgiving. However, ÂNarragansett Indian FlintÂ (also known as ÂRhode Island White CapÂ) has a narrow ecological adaptation. It likes the quasi-Mediterranean climate of Southern New England. It is too long season for Northern New England, and too heat-intolerant for the Southeast or Midwest. It is not widely enough adapted nor popular enough to warrant its production as a seed crop via normal channels.

ÂNarragansettÂ makes wonderful jonnycakes -- the very best, IÂm told. I donÂt know if they are the very best possible, but IÂve tried them and they are truly delicious. ÂNarragansettÂ also makes rich, full[bodied cereal and polenta. But you canÂt buy the seed from commercial suppliers. If you garden in the Midwest, of course, you donÂt care, because you canÂt grow the corn anyway. But given our current system for mass producing food and seed crops, the fact that you canÂt grow the corn in the Midwest now means that you canÂt grow it in southern New England either unss you can save your own seed."

I have confidence in CarolÂs information, not only because of her all around high level of scholarship but because she has spent time in Southern New England as a student and mentions having tasted jonnycakes made from ÂNarragansettÂ corn meal. She obviously knows what she is talking about.

IÂve always wondered about that tight regional adaptation issue, however. It strains my credulity a little. Is ÂNarragansettÂ really not worth growing outside southern New England? Probably it is a matter of degree, not an absolute limitation. I would like to know to what degree. WouldnÂt you?

I am seeking about 30 gardeners from a broad geographic area who would be willing to plant a small plot (about 12Â x 12Â) of ÂNarragansettÂ and report on their results. I will supply the seeds and planting information so that all participants are growing under comparable conditions, other than climate and soil.

Jim

P.S. For an example of a previous gardening experiment I conducted, see the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Foliar Feeding Experiment

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Comments (13)

fusion_power
14 years ago
the link does not work for me Jim.

I'm full up of corn to grow this year so can't volunteer. I can wish you luck with the experiment.

I grew several beans from Macmex a couple of years ago and among them were some tropical adapted beans. These were VERY difficult in my climate. The reason appears to be a day length sensitivity concern. On the other end of that spectrum is a variety called Bird Egg #3. This is a variety that is not at all adapted to my climate but is adapted further north. It does not seem to be a day length problem, rather it appears that Bird Egg #3 is extremely sensitive to my normal hot humid climate. My reason for mentioning this is because I have seen signs of day length sensitivity in corn and I have seens signs of temperature/climate sensitivity as well.

DarJones
jimster
Original Author
14 years ago
Wouldn't you know it! The first time I forget to check the link when previewing the message, I put in a bad URL. Oh, well. This one works.

By looking at my previous experiment you can evaluate my level of obsessive compulsive disorder and see if you are still interested.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Foliar Feeding Experiment
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pnbrown
14 years ago
Jimster, we can push the envelope to an extreme by trying it out in my florida 9a location. I'll plant a block of a 100 or so with the seed you already gave me. In late February. If I can get my 'crew' there to irrigate it'll have a fighting chance.

If I can get a good-size plot here for next summer maybe I can get a re-supply from you?
jimster
Original Author
14 years ago
Including Florida in the experiment would be good. My aim is to sample a very wide range of climates.

Sure. I can replenish your seed. I have several pounds.

Jim
calliope
14 years ago
I'm interested and I grow corn each year and even had some for harvesting last year because I put up electric fence. LOL. You can PM me if you want. I am Appalachian S.E. Ohio.
heather38
14 years ago
I am in CT, New London County, I would give it ago, But I will be honest my corn last year was terrible, But I realised that it was the soil not me, I attempted 3 sisters, and the runners where also awful, but great in other areas.
I am going to do it again this year, but I don't mind subbing your corn for mine, I literally can only do your 12x12, but I would be doing the 3 sisters again as I am a Brit and Love my Runner beans, I have Scarlet (don't like them), Polestar and lady Di, and I will do Howden Pumpkin and Butternut... if you want to try some of my varieties of British bred runners please let me know, and I will give you some and you can gladly have the last few beans of Scarlet which I believe is the New England native?. (PS all seeds have been purchased in the US, so hopefully no worries of nasties)
I like to experiment, but this is only my second year gardening proper and 50/50 will my hubby have a job in the next month?? and therefore be heading back to Blightly, so If you get a better offer, I will understand :-) that said would be fun to try in the UK, if we do head home.
but either way the offer of Runner Beans is still open only got about 40 of lady Di and a few of polestar, but willing to share.
staticx
14 years ago
im in south new york if you want me to grow a plot.
it will probably have to be a slighlty smaller plot
skeip
14 years ago
I'm in southern WI, Madison area, had good corn last year - Nothsteen Dent. I would be willing to put in a block for you.
jimster
Original Author
14 years ago
Your replies are brightening up this gloomy season. Thanks. I anticipate hearing from many more gardeners wishing to join in. Also, I'm thinking of some fun spin-off activities to go along with the experiment. Virtual jonnycake tasting from the harvested corn maybe? There is plenty of time to think about such things.

Jim
t-bird
14 years ago
Hi Jim,

If you're interested, I could do some in chicago. I have a city lot, so not much space, I could devote maybe 6x6 to the experiment?
jimster
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm interested, t-bird. Although 6x6 is smaller than what I was thinking of as the standard plot for the experiment, there will be many factors which will be difficult to control. I expect the design of this experiment will need to be fairly loose that the results will have to be anecdotal in nature. I'll get more specific as we go along.

Thanks for your interest.

Jim
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
14 years ago
Perhaps this offer is closed, but if not...

We have a large vegetable plot this year, our first, and are excited about corn. I would very much love to find some older varieties that are, according to the documentary King Corn, more nutritious. We live in the lakes region of NH.

Also, I'm dying to plant my corn right now, but the soil temps are between 55-60. I should wait, right? So hard!

We will be doing Three SIsters planting. What beans do you use? We are familiar mostly with southern beans like black-eyed peas, crowder peas, etc. What do you grow and eat up here? Do you ever eat Scarlet Runner Beans?

Thanks, and let me know if you need corn growers.
jimster
Original Author
14 years ago
As my garden plan for this year developed, the space I originally allocated to the corn experiment got pre-empted for higher priority items. So, I will not do an experimental planting of Narragansett Indian Flint corn this year.

I have plenty of seed and will be happy to supply those who have expressed interest in it. Just let me know via Garden Web E-mail if you want some. If several gardeners from varied climatic regions grow the corn this year we can still analyze the results.

deanna,

Supposedly, this corn is poorly adapted to your region, as explained in the original post. I am somewhat skeptical about that however and the purpose of the experiment I proposed was to test that belief. I would be very interested in your results if you were to plant this corn.

I planted five pole varieties of common beans. For authenticity sake, I focused on native American varieties such as Hidatsa Shield Figure and Cherokee Trail of Tears. I had a low yield of beans. I believe that was due to spacing the corn too closely and perhaps not timing the plantings correctly. The corn may have had too much of a head start on the beans. That is difficult to know. Southern peas would not be suitable for a three sisters garden.

If I were to repeat the three sisters garden I made last year I would space the hills six feet apart in both directions, not four feet as I did last year. Four feet was too close, which shaded the squash severely.

Regional Adaptation Experiment - Volunteers Needed

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