Robin SmithWhether you’ve ever had a garden, the term “seed corn” is heard on occasion in Southern dialogue, especially in making a point about saving for future growth.
In the world of agriculture, taking care to collect and save a portion of your crop to return to seed is key.
Corn is a grass that is naturally pollinated by the wind with the seed identified as a grain. Planting corn requires not only good seed but rich soil that has reached 60 degrees to allow germination as well as full sun. Seeds need to be placed one inch deep and four to six inches apart with multiple rows about a yard apart to ensure pollination.
A single seed of corn may produce a corn plant that yields 600 kernels of corn each year. What a return on your investment!
Of course, this “return” is after planting and watering the crop, protecting it from pests such as worms, raccoons, deer and invasive weeds, and harvesting the crop. Yet, the seeds began as cobs of corn left on the stalk to dry as others were harvested.