Corn is an easy crop to grow. It requires very little space or space you have, if you are a farmer looking to expand your operations. All you really need to start is land to grow plants on.
As a beginner, it is important to learn how to harvest corn. This includes the way you store and use the grain. You can either silage it or dry it off before marketing, or even while growing.
Dry-roasting and malting are two popular ways of processing barley. The malts and sugars created can be used in several recipes, including baking or brewing. Silage is very important when starting out as there are certain differences in texture and shape of the stalks.
This article will talk about ways to use cornstalks after harvest.
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Dry them and put them in a paper bag
Once the corn is harvested, it’s time to dry and store. Here are some tips to help you do this!
Dry the corn in a controlled environment at about 100°F for about two weeks. This brings out the sugar in the corn and allows it to crystallize into flour and grain.
After two weeks, check them to see if any have dried up. If so, return them to a warm dry place until they regain their moisture again.
Dryed corn can be stored away in a dark, cool place or shelf unit for use next year. Just make sure it is kept dry and away from condensation or wetness of water. Corn will soak up water when wet, making it damp and Grimes-ggrissleous looking.
Use them for Christmas decorations
If you find a stalk that is very large, or that looks particularly special or valuable, you can try to keep it. Many hobbyists and professionals encourage people to take their corn stalks and display them at livestock shows, barns, and other farm structures.
To make a display unit, you need to cut the stalk in half lengthwise, then each end must be glued together. These must then be wrapped with paper or vinyl to protect the surfaces from wetness, wind damage, and seasonal decorations.
You can then put up your unit as needed using wire or nylon straps, depending on how heavy the unit is.
If you want to display them on their own rather than together, you must use some kind of protection for these units as they are transported from one location to the next. These areDisplay units,you need to cut the stalk in half lengthwise,. Each end must adheto be glued together. These must then be wrapped with paper or vinyl to protect the surfaces from wetness,.
Make corn husk dolls
Is there a more heartwarming way to play with your children after harvest? Make corn husk dolls onto the cob!
Corn is a cereal crop, right? Then playing with corn stalks should be an easy fit. As children are able to see the beginning and end of the stalks, which are attached by long silk strands, they can make their own versions of those.
They can be built with paper or foam blocks and then painted or launched onto a surface using glue and a doll-style stick. Or they can be made out of clay or foam-based materials and molded.
The final product could come in the form of an envisioned human, animal, or even insect being saved from hunger by these tiny Corn Gods.
Store them in a dry place until spring
Because corn is a perennial plant, it can also be stored in the ground until spring. In fact, some farmers will cut the corn off the stalk and store it in a dry place until spring to grow bigger leaves to protect the corn and prevent it from being harvested.
This is a good idea as there are times when it is necessary to store grain at this time of year. If you do this, make sure you take all of your precautions- from making sure your grain is free of contaminants such as bugs or diseases, to checking that the lid is secure.
If you think you might need to nourish your grain before storage, you can dry it out a little more. Make sure you are taking all of these steps so that others do not need your help!
On average, one head of corn will produce about five ears per season.
Use them as kindling for a fire
If you are lucky enough to have a lot of cornstalks after harvest, you can use them as kindling for a fire. Just make sure to save some of the silk that grows along the stalk. This silk is golden in color and can be cooked into soups or used as a breading for vegetables and/or meat.
In Canada, corn stalks are traditionally cut down at the base and stacked. The cutoffs are allowed to stand for several months before burning. This is believed to ensure that the fire is hard and fierce enough to burn down all the surrounding vegetation.
If you do have enough corn stalks to stack, create some interesting shapes with them like pyramids or hills. Just make sure not to cross-sta-ack-ickles because that would be hazardous.
Cook them into soup or stew
Many people prefer to eat cornstalks, so it is a good habit to clean and prepare your crop before planting. Corn is a perennial vegetable that can adaptations for growth.
If you’re careful when harvesting corn, you can cook some of the stalk and store the rest of the plant for later use. You can make corn bread, soups, and stews.
To make soup, you just need to add enough water to the plant to cover it. You can use salted or fresh water if there is salt in the plant. If there is no salt in the plant, then you can use sweat or cooking oil instead.
Cooking with your cornstalk does not mean using a fire-hot casserole dish. Instead, you need to use one with high insulation properties. You want your soup to be thick enough that you cannot see any liquid in it, which is what trickles down into the pan after cooking.
Feed it to livestock
Although not recommended, some livestock might eat the corn after it has been harvested. A few ears of corn can be a medium to large meal for a cow, cowhorn bean can be a good source of protein for a diet.
If you have wheat harvest day, you could use your extra wheat to make bread or pasta dishes. You could also make tortillas or couscous if you had some milky rice left over.
You can also feed your leftover corn to your chickens. If you do this, make sure you properly clean and process the chicken feed so it does not cause any problems for your chickens.
Make corn silk tea
If your corn is in the ground for a long time, the silk will start to thin and break down. This can make for some delicious tea if you are careful to keep an eye on your plants.
When the silk breaks down, it creates a process called capillary action. Capillary action enhances the size of your leaves as they grow. It also helps regulate water availability, which is another way of saying that this process helps ensure you have enough food when you harvest.
By leaving a little silk on your corn plants after harvest, you promote more capillary action and more food for your plants to grow on. You can also use some of this silk as mulch or used as landscaping soil amendment.
To learn more about how to bring success with your next crop of corn, check out this article on doing root system replacement and planting new plants.