Sweet Corn Harvest
This week the sweet corn was ready. So Tuesday evening we picked and preserved it. Harland brought out the wheel barrow to haul it from the garden. This year we planted a variety called Peaches and Cream.
Then we stood around the bed of the Toyota farm truck and shucked it while we watched a storm pass to the south of us. We loaded the shucked corn into the house in our largest laundry basket.
Harland estimated it to weigh about 50 pounds. We blanch our corn to preserve it. First, Harland cut the ends off.
I brought 2 large pots of water to a rolling boil. I cleaned the kitchen sink, and filled it with cold water and ice. After the ends are cut off, the next step is to boil the corn for 4 minutes.
Then we put it in the ice water for 4 minutes to cool it down. Then we put it in the dishrack to drain.
Finally we placed it on a bath towel to dry, and then put it in freezer bags.
As you can see, Kitty was an invaluable helping hand in this process. We don’t know what we would do without her.
Then we loaded the freezer bags of corn back into the laundry basket, and Harland hauled it down into the basement to put in the deep freeze. We got done about 9:30pm, cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. A lot of work for the evening, but we’ll have corn on the cob in January that will taste just like fresh from the garden.
As I write this we are getting ready to leave for another road trip. This time we’re crossing the Kansas border into Missouri to spend the weekend in Hermann. An old Missouri river town, they have everything there from wineries to museums, antique shopping and historic sites. There will be posts next week.
~~~~~~~~~~~
[ad name=”Google Adsense”]
I just found your site this week and want you to know how much I am enjoying it. As a midwestern gal, I am appreciating your style.
Hello GinMT,
Glad you found me!
Thanks for stopping by.
I honestly did not know you could preserve corn. I can’t wait to try this with our next corn crop!
Hi Noelle,
You can also can corn, but that takes longer, and we didn’t have the time that evening. Plus, blanching is easier.
Hooray for corn on the cob!!! I love sweet corn! So glad you got it all finished before you leave for another roadtrip. I hope you have a great time! Can’t wait to hear about it.
Tiffany
Hi Girl with a Camera,
We had a great time. Posts to come.
Thanks for stopping by,
Suzanne
BEAUTIFUL corn!! We haven’t had good luck with sweet corn–we just can’t keep it watered enough!! Yours looks just great! Busy evening, but such a fulfilling feeling to have that in your freezer–knowing you grew it yourself!! Apparently I missed all of your posts this week! Enjoyed them all, as usual!
Hi Melanie,
Thank You!
That’s what I do when I process corn too. But, I don’t have space to grow sweet corn. I buy mine. It is so good to have fresh sweet corn in January. You got a nice sized crop. So glad Kitty had time in her schedule to help you. 🙂
Hi Gardener,
Kitty does what she can. She’s so overworked. 🙂
I love the photo of all the corn in the laundry basket!! You are so lucky to have all that corn. I am super jealous! I just bought 6 ears at the farmer’s market for $2.50!! We have plenty of space to grow corn..I should really consider it. P.S. It’s always fun to see Kitty in your photos. Looks like she always has to check out what is going on! Too cute!
Hi Bonnie,
The laundry basket was Harland’s idea – practical man he is. 🙂 Kitty has her nose is in everything we do, not that she helps, but she likes to offer moral support. 🙂
I freeze my corn exactly the same way. Peaches and Cream is a good variety. I also pressure can corn, being limited on freezer space. Looking forward to your posts on the upcoming vacation.
Hi Glyndalyn,
Never pressure canned before – not brave enough.
Thank you for stopping!
That’s some harvest! Enjoy.
Hi Shailaja,
Will do. Thank you!
Yum…I love corn, we eat it almost everyday now, while we can too get it fresh from the field! What a great year for corn here…so Sweet! Have a good time on you vacation! Can’t wait to see your posts when you get back.
Check out my new post today, as always love yours. Safe travels,
-Kristina-
Hi Kristina,
Thank you for stopping by. I caught up on your blog – loved Sunday’s post.
Suzanne
Beautiful crop! It’s my hope that the next house we get will have a bit of land for me to do some gardening… and have a mini orchard…
Hi Lee Ann,
Would love to have an orchard with apples, peaches, and apricots.
Suzanne…just to let you know, I just got finished making your recipe for refrigerator pickles…tasted the juice that they are in and oh my goodness!…I can wait to try these…they will be so GOOD!!! I also made your recipe for the sky high biscuits last weekend…they turned out great….mine were not as high as yours, but…they were double the height that mine usually turn out…so I consider that a huge success! We topped them with my homemade strawberry freezer jam, and they were devoured that same night! Thanks for the recipes!
Hi Bonnie,
So glad you are enjoying the recipes. Isn’t is funny how good old fashioned food is also easy to make?
Thanks for stopping by.
That looks so good. You should try this recipe http://thecharmingtyrant.blogspot.com/2010/06/fresh-corn-salad.html Delicious!
Hi Charming’s Mama,
Thank you! The corn salad recipe looks delish – wll have to try.
Thanks again!
Peaches and Cream is my favorite. It’s usually the dogs that help around here by trying to steal as many ears as possible while we are husking. 🙂
Hi Teresa,
I had a dog like that once. She did a better job of eating it off the cob than most people I know. 🙂
We grow corn every year and apart from the first year when I blanched it, I now just put the raw cobs in plastic bags in the freezer and they keep quite successfully for even longer than a year. Much quicker and easier and the corn tastes just as it should. Have been doing this for around 30 years now!
Hi Jo,
We blanch our corn to kill the bacteria that exist in all fruits and veggies. Helps to preserve it better.