forget corn, harvest smut...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/14/AR2007021400391.html

Here's a clickable link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Corn Smut Article

What variety of corn was he growing?

Jim

Yes, some varieties of corn seem to be more susceptible than others. I plant corn in the same place year after year, and almost never have a problem on my Bodacious. My Incredible, on the other hand, had smut on probably 30% of the stalks this year. That's the highest I've ever had it, so I'll probably have to rotate where I plant the varieties next year.

Some sweet corn varieties are resistant to smut, so switching to them would be my best recommendation. Your county Extension agent should be able to give you a list.

I began growing the "se" variety "Miracle" for that reason. It is highly disease resistant (not just to smut) and I have had very little trouble since. Smut very rarely appears on the tillers, which I cut off & dispose of at the first sign, before the spores escape. So far this year, my corn is smut free.

By the way, "Miracle" is also shorter than most main season sweet corns, has very large ears (often 16-18 rows of kernels) and is of excellent quality... so disease resistance does not have to come at the expense of flavor.

Corn Smut is suppose to be gourmet eating. Very expensive to purchase.

I have had smut but never would eat it. Not sure I trust it.

Corn Smut is delicious. I have been trying to grow it on purpose. Next year I will try planting a succeptable variety just for the smut.

You eat it before it splits open. When the gray skin is still intact. You need to cook it before eating. I just chop it and saute it in some olive oil. Then use it in quesadillas, soup etc. It looks kind of gross cuz it is black when cooking but is tastes nice.

It is a specialty in mexican cuisine. Do a search for huitelacoche for more information.

If you are NOT trying to grow it you should remove any you see and burn it. Disposing of it will not rid your area of spores and you may have problems again next year. Plant varieties that resistant to it.

And if you do get some you can just cut off the top of the cob. The rest of the corn is still fine to consume.

What are your recommendations for growing huitlacoche on purpose? Which corn varieties? Any special treatment of the plants to encourage it?

Jim

Why would you possibly want to get rid of it?? You can buy ubiquitous sweet corn at any grocery store right now but you'd be hard-pressed to find huitlacoche. That stuff is like gold to Mexicans.

Chop it up (the whole ugly-looking thing) & fry it with some onions & garlic, add a little white cheese if you want, & place it in hot corn torillas with a little hot sauce or homemade salsa. Bliss!

Really, try this. You'll like it!

I just harvested about 2lbs of it last night (I was so excited my expreiment actually worked).

I took some early smut that had grown on my dent corn and about 3 weeks ago went around and rubbed it on my sweet corn. I went right down a row that had finished tasseling and rubbed it directly into the silks (doing damage on purpose, cuz I was told you need to damage the plant to get it to produce). Then I took some more and rubbed on the stalks & leaf v's (where then ears will eventually come out)of some younger corn.

The stuff I harvested last night was from the row of older corn, but it was not on the ears I pollinated it was down very low; about 6" from the ground; where a third ear was forming. These ears were pure smut :). The younger corn I pollinated is just starting to tassle now, still no smut that I can see, but I will be watching.

I think the weather has had alot to do with it. During July we only got 1" of rain but since Aug 2 we have gotten about 8.5-9". It has been raining about every other day so nothing has a chance to dry out.

I had a great quesadilla last night. Tonight I will be freezing a bunch of it for enjoyment this winter.

As far as varieties mine was on Bodaceous, but I have read that Silver Queen is highly succeptible, so next year I will plant a few rows of that just for growing smut.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone ... I'm not sure I can get over the gross factor and try eating the stuff, but I'll think about it. :-)