Earth Tones Indian Corn - heirloom 20 seeds

Glass Gem is predominantly a popcorn (a subcategory of flint corn) and can be ground into cornmeal for use in dishes such as polenta or grits, or popped. This variety was selected for its majestic beauty and colors. However, it does have good corn flavor.

The colorful Glass Gem corn has recently received worldwide attention, and it tells the story of two men with a love for corn. Glass Gem was developed out of a line of ‘rainbow corn’ that was originally bred by a part-Cherokee, corn enthusiast named Carl Barnes. Barnes grew up in Oklahoma and from an early age became interested in his Native American heritage. He had a particular fascination for the ceremonial knowledge surrounding the planting, harvesting and honoring of seeds, which he learned from his Grandfather.

Later in life, Barnes grew some of the older corn varieties available in the area. Within this corn, he noticed traits from ancient varieties that were previously stewarded by Native American peoples of Oklahoma but had been lost, and so he began to isolate these special plants. Soon, Barnes had developed a collection of heritage corns and was able to reintroduce them to their original stewards.

Over time, these groups exchanged seed with Barnes and he developed an extensive collection of heritage corn varieties. In 1994, Carl Barnes met Greg Schoen, another fan of unusual corns. The two men developed a deep friendship over the years and Schoen began to grow the ‘rainbow corn’ that Barnes had created during the 1980s from a mixture of Pawnee miniature, Osage Red Flour and Osage Greyhorse corns.

Plant Glass Gem in rows 30 inches apart with 6-12 inches between seeds. Alternatively, 3-4 seeds can be planted in a hole, with a space of 3-4 feet between seed clusters. The ears are ready to harvest when the husks are dry and brown.