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What plant helped build North American civilizations?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 28, 2001

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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Killer Picks: Sweet Corn, Pole Beans, Squash & more—>Click here.

About 7,000 years ago, some gatherers, probably women noticed a spontaneous mutation in teosinte (Zea mays subspecies parviglumis). The ears may have been larger or the kernels bigger, but this teosinte was good to eat. More importantly, these women noticed that spilled kernels grew into replicas of the plants from which they were picked. They could scatter the kernels and reap the results—a stable food source.

Lil' Indian Hybrid Decorator's Pick—Multicolored 3- to 6-inch ears, sized right for craft projects and door decorations. Lil' Indian Hybrid Ornamental Corn has big, broad kernels have amazing color. 100 DAYS.

Called 'Calico Miniature' in Field's. Pops white with colored hulls. Colorful favorite of children.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [All Corn!] [Beans!] [Squash!]

The early planters also discovered that if the best seeds were not eaten but planted, then the next crop was even better. These early farmers selected the traits they desired and so insured the survival of the mutated forms of teosinte, paving the way for the advent of corn.

Soon farmers discovered something else—if corn, beans, and squash were grown together, the foods provided the basic diet adequate for human life. These plants also obliged one another. The stalks of corn provided support for the bean vines without the two plants competing for sunlight. Squash vines growing between the hills of corn and beans shaded out weeds. Tending the crops took less time when grown together. This combination of crops spread over much of North America.

Instead of crude shelters or caves, the people had time to build homes; instead of sleeping on piles of grasses, they had time to weave mats, make decorative baskets, and invent and refine pottery. The people studied the sky and learned to predict the seasons. The people organized and built mounds, temples, and cities. They invented astronomy, mathematics, ceremonies, and festivals. And they handed these things down to their children and their children's children.

The mounds, temples, and cities are now archaeological curiosities, but the corn still grows.

To view a field of Iowa corn in real time, click on the link:

http://www.iowafarmer.com/corncam/corn.html

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Corn Cutter

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Makes cutting and canning sweet corn a snap! - Strips every kernel off an ear of sweet corn in 5 quick strokes but leaves the hulls on the cob. Saves time, effort and energy. Rugged polystyrene casing. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Harvest Helpers!]

Corn Desilking Brush

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Cleans 4 times better than any other design on the market! – Each brush is equipped with over 1,000 pyramid-shaped bristles. Easily wipes off sticky corn silks. Scrubs garden vegetables, too. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Harvest Helpers!]

Garden Soil Inoculant

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Improves the yields of peas and beans. – Encourages nitrogen fixation so plants develop stronger roots. Shake onto the soil as you plant. Treats 150 ft. of row. 8.7 oz. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Gardening Aids!]

Sweet Corn, Gotta Have It Hybrid (sh2)

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

A New Sweet Corn WITHOUT EQUAL!

When we introduced Kandy Korn in the 1970's, we thought it was a breakthrough that would be hard to improve upon. The new sh2 varieties are sweeter, but still can't match the delicately rich, sweet corn flavor of Kandy Korn.

Gotta Have It is a breakthrough in breeding - a big leap forward-in the same way that Kandy Korn was 30 years ago.

Its bicolor kernels are incredibly sweet, yet one who tastes Gotta Have It for the first time reacts the same way: "Ummmmm- better than any sweet corn I've ever tasted!" or "Where can i buy some?" We are happy to reply, "Right here-only from Gurney's!"

In our opinion Gotta Have It is the best there is, the perfect sweet corn. maybe in another 30 years we will find something better, but until then you’ve just got to try Gotta Have It! 78 DAYS
Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [View All Corn!]

Tri-Color Sweet Corn Collection

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Our most popular corns!

Sweet corn has come a long way! Choose from high-sugar hybrids that are sweeter at harvest and stay that way for up to 10 days, super-sweet hybrids with their even higher sugar content and crisp texture, and sugary enhanced hybrids that are sweet, creamy and extra tender.

Save $2.90! Tri-Color Sweet Corn Collection includes one packet of each of the following:

Double Delicious: When we tasted Double Delicious, the vote was unanimous--we said, "This is the best-tasting sweet corn in the country!" Excellent germination and vigor clinched it. Golden 9" ears, doubly sure to satisfy! Approx. 250 seeds per pkt. 83 days.

Silver Queen: Combines size, sweetness and lasting quality! Ears are 8-9" long with 14-16 rows of creamy kernels. Leaf blight tolerant. Approx. 250 seeds per pkt. 88 days.

Honey & Cream: Tasty bicolor combines the creaminess of white, the sweet goodness of yellow. Blunt-ended 7 1/2 to 8" ears, filled with broad, deep kernels. Approx. 250 seeds per pkt. 84 days. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [View All Corn!]

Pole Beans, Kentucky Wonder

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Grandma's Favorite Fresh Bean

Gurney's Choice Old-fashioned variety, long on flavor--vigorous, rust-resistant and successful in all parts of the country. Enormous yields of straight and smooth 8- to 9-inch pods. A good all-around pick for processing. 67 DAYS.

Beans are one of your best bets for yield and versatility. A 15- foot row of pole beans will produce about 12 pounds of beans over a 6 to 8 week period.

Grow green snap, wax and lima beans for fresh eating, freezing and canning.

Rust resistant. Climbs freely. Distinctive flavor, good firmness, straight, smooth. Oldest and most widely used. Extends the bean season. Bears until frost if picked regularly. Also refer to pole bean culture.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [View All Beans!]

Summer Squash, Medley Blend of Hybrids

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Diversity for Small Spaces

Savory blend of four summer squashes includes Goldbar, Goldrush, Embassy and President.

Compact plants. 45-50 DAYS.

No matter how small your garden, you can grow squash.

Compacts varieties are available for both winter and summer types, and often just two or three plants will yield enough fruits for a small family. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Summer Squash!] [All Squash!]

Top Winter Squash Offer

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Plant a little, pick a lot!

No matter how small your garden, you can grow squash.

Compacts varieties are available for both winter and summer types, and often just two or three plants will yield enough fruits for a small family.

$2.70 Value! Get 1 packet each of:

Waltham Butternut: Cooks up sweet and tender! Smooth beige 9- to 10-inch fruits, filled with solid orange flesh. Huge yields. Approximately 25 seeds per packets. 95 days.

Buttercup: Turban-shaped fruits weight 3-5 pounds, heavy with yellow flesh. Thick and meaty, it's a treat to eat. Cooks and stores well. Approximately 25 seeds per packet. 105 days. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Winter Squash!] [All Squash!]

Winter Squash, Vegetable Spaghetti

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Less Starch Than Real Pasta

Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash is for lower carb pasta! Pasta-like flesh looks like the real thing, great topped with cheese or spaghetti sauce. Cylindrical 2- to 3-pound fruits. 90 DAYS.

No matter how small your garden, you can grow squash. Compacts varieties are available for both winter and summer types, and often just two or three plants will yield enough fruits for a small family.

5 -7 fruits/vine. Ready to harvest when skin color changes from cream to buff. Can be stored 1 - 2 months. Very easy to grow. Smooth, cylindrical fruits. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Winter Squash!] [All Squash!]