Black Aztec

Thursday, 17 September 2009 13:03

A blue corn variety from pre-Columbian times. Eaten fresh when young, or dried to make a sweet blue-green cornmeal. Originally domesticated by Mesoamericans, it is a staple food with many other traditional uses. This remarkable variety was introduced in the 1860s by seedsman John Gregory. Classic, vigorous sweet and flour corn produces 8" ears with white kernels during the milk (eating) stage, then a deep blue black when dry. Cornmeal makes a delicious purple cornbread Home gardeners love to grow corn, and there are many varieties suited to different climates. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in rows or clumps, two weeks after the last frost date. Corn needs rich soil, full sun and adequate moisture to produce good ears. It is wind pollinated, so if you want to save seed, you will need to either stagger the planting time of different varieties, or plant them 1/4 mile apart. Planting Depth: 1/2" Soil Temp. for Germination: 60-85°F Days to Germination: 4-12 Plant Spacing: 12" Days to Maturity: 70-95 Full Sun Moderate Water Go to table of corn varieties