Glass Gem Popcorn

Glass Gem Popcorn was selected by the late Carl Barnes, a Cherokee corn grower from Oklahoma. He crossed many traditional varieties, saving seeds from the most vivid to create this highly diverse, breath-taking variety. Glass Gem can be ground for cornmeal or popped.

Our Glass Gem patch happened to tassel next to some tasseling Teosinte - the ancestor of corn. This means there is a small chance that some traits of the ancestral corn will appear in the Glass Gem patch. When we posted online about this dilemma, the general consensus was that this would be fascinating and desirable, so we offer these seeds despite the possibility of unexpected cross-pollination. Most of the Teosinte had finished tasselling before Glass Gem started, but a few continued on.

Days to maturity: 110-120

Seeds per pack: 60

Germination rate: 100% on 01/28/2022

Planting / harvesting notes

Direct seed about an inch deep in moist soil a couple weeks after the last danger of frost. 12"-24" spacing in row, especially if intercropping with beans and/or squash. Needs full sun and ample nitrogen in well-drained soil. Leave ears on the stalks as long as possible to dry before harvesting for popcorn or seed saving. If weather and/or pests prevent a full cure on the stalk, wait until the ear has flopped over, silks toward the ground, making sure the husks are brown and papery.

Seed keeping notes

Corn is wind pollinated and should be isolated by 2-3 miles from other varieties of corn to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. Another option is to separate your corn plantings by 3-4 weeks so they do not flower/tassel at the same time. Allow the husks and cobs to fully dry on the plants before harvesting for seed. If you are concerned about neighbor's corn plots hybridizing yours, consider only harvesting seed from the plants towards the middle of your plot, leaving the outer rows for eating. If necessary, lay out the cobs to do some final drying before removing the husks and seeds.