Glass Gem corn – rainbow on a cob! It is nature’s miracle, and you can have it in your garden, too. Glass gem corn is easy to grow, and it looks like magic!
The first time I saw a picture of Glass Gem corn was in an online seed catalog last year. I was searching for sweet corn seeds, as I was keen to grow some ears that I could actually eat. My two previous attempts at corn – one lot from small plants I bought from Home Depot and the next lot from seed – resulted in dinky little ears with deformed and lumpish kernels sprouting haphazardly around the cob. They looked like little mouthfulls of crooked yellow teeth in dire need of both a dentist and an orthodontist. But, hey, I’m no snob when it comes to how food looks! As long as it tastes good, it can look like Quasimodo’s butt, for all I care.
But this corn…
This corn didn’t just look like Quasimodo’s butt…it tasted like it too!*
Handan and Barish loved it.
The corn, I mean. Not Quasimodo’s butt.
To them, it tasted like the corn they have in Turkey. It tasted like home. They slathered it in butter and gobbled every bite.
I tried that Turkish corn once.
Once.
Handan’s hometown of Izmir is a jewel of a city the circles a bay of the Aegean Sea. Every night in summer, you can find thousands of Turks strolling along the water’s edge or relaxing in the seaside parks. Vendors of all sorts sell everything from rice-stuffed mussels to sunflower seeds to cotton candy to corn-on-the-cob.
I watched those corn-hawkers with a keen eye. I love corn, and the way they roasted it over an open fire on their rolling corn carts captivated my senses and got my mouth watering.
One night, I asked Handan if we could try it.
She was more than happy to oblige, since she loves corn, too.
We approached the man and ordered two ears – one for Handan and me and one for Barish. I watched him grill our cobs as child watches a candymaker. Oh, I couldn’t wait! Grilled corn is the best!
He served our cobs on a bed of husks, and I had that thing in my mouth almost before he could remove his hand to safety. Oh boy, this is gonna be great! I bit down and…
And all the joy I’ve ever known leapt from body and dove into the Aegean Sea.
What the hell is this thing?
I peered at the impostor in my hand.
Where’s the sweet? This isn’t corn…this is horse food!
I chewed the…what? Fodder? Cud? Slop? I managed to get it down into my throat en route to my stomach. I looked at the traitorous cob once more and handed it to Handan.
“Here you go, my babes. You can finish it.”
She grabbed it from me and bit in with gusto.
I dropped to my knees and looked up into the sky. I threw my hands into the air and screamed at the heavens.
“Nooooooooooooo!”
But the Turks were too busy cramming those mirthless kernels into their mouths to notice my suffering.
Handan and Barish were in heaven, each bite better than the last for them.
Fools! Didn’t they understand that corn was supposed to be as sweet as candy?
Never have my expectations been so thoroughly smashed and shattered by reality.
It was one of the many times I learned that life in the rest of the great wide world was wildly different than life in Glastonbury, Connecticut – home of the sweetest corn on planet Earth.**
Oh, by the way, though I’m not a fan of Turkish eating corn, their popcorn is the best I’ve ever tasted! We stock up on it whenever we hit up a Turkish grocery.
*****
Anyway, as I was browsing through the corn seeds online, I came across a picture that couldn’t be real. It seemed to be an ear of corn, but it looked like a rainbow!
I was mesmerized, so I clicked on the link for more information. The corn was called Glass Gem, and it looked like a rainbow on a cob! I had to try to grow it – I still didn’t really believe I could get corn like the ones pictured, but I had to try! I ordered a small packet of seeds. Oh boy, this is gonna be great!
While I waited for my seeds, I did a little research on the corn. Turns out that Glass Gem corn is all OMG and no GMO! This is not the product of a mad scientist or rogue unicorn. Rather, it was developed over a number of years by a half-Cherokee farmer in Oklahoma named Carl “White Eagle” Barnes.
Carl wanted to reconnect with his roots and heritage, so he began seeking out older varieties of corn, like the ones his Native American ancestors would have grown. Sometimes, he’d get an abnormally colorful ear, and he’d select and replant the seeds from those ears.
Over time, the corn became more and more colorful. He eventually gave some seeds to a a friend who planted them in New Mexico alongside more traditional varieties of corn, and this created even more colorful strains.
His friend started selling the seeds to the public, and the rest is rainbow corn history.
The best part about planting Glass Gem corn seeds, is you don’t know what you’re going to get come harvest!
The corn grew like the others I had planted in previous years, though these seem a bit taller.
I’d lost track of how long it had been since I planted, but when I checked the corn the other day, I noticed one of the stalks seemed to be infected, and its husks were already brown.
Figuring these for a loss, I pulled them off and shucked them. What I saw blew my mind! I honestly didn’t think it would work – at least not as well as in the pictures. But it was even better than I could have hoped. I didn’t know whether I should eat it, frame it, or string it up and hang it from Handan’s neck!
I decided to harvest almost all of it – I didn’t want to risk losing any ears to infection or to the birds! There were some nice green ears, too.
Every ear was a surprise!
Glass Gem corn is not meant to be eaten like regular corn, though it won’t hurt you to do so. It’s what is called flint corn, and its primary purpose would normally be for corn meal or popcorn. But with looks like these, we’ll be using them for decor around the house this fall (and then maybe popping the kernels after that)!
I’m not the best farmer, but growing my Glass Gem corn was a breeze. I stuck the kernels in the ground, watered the plants regularly (but not excessively), and basically did nothing. Corn is as easy as garlic to grow, and next year I’ll be growing way more of each!
The seeds I bought cost me $5 for a very small quantity. Amazon has a better deal – less than $3 for 50 seeds. I’ll be buying those seeds this fall for next year’s planting.
If unicorns had gardens, they’d grow Glass Gem corn. Also, I’m pretty sure unicorn poop looks like this, too.
Have you guys seen Glass Gem corn before? Has anyone planted it?
Let me know in the comments, and send pictures to [email protected] If I get enough, I’ll post them on our Facebook page.
Happy planting!
*Quasimodo’s butt was neither tasted nor harmed for this article.
**I haven’t yet tasted all the corn on planet Earth, but I stand by my claim.
Amanda Lake says
Thanks for the information. This will be fun to grow. It’s soooo pretty.
Greg says
It’s amazing – just wait until you shuck your first ear!
Regi says
My grandma used to grow a few stalks of this along side her sweet corn. She used to call it Indian corn….know I now why! Sure is pretty. And, while I haven’t tasted Glastonbury, CT sweet corn, I have to say that Iowa sweet corn is the best I’ve ever had!
Greg says
I remember my mom hanging dried Indian corn outside our house when I was a kid, but it never had these colors – just reds and oranges I think. Now about that sweet corn…
Bren says
I had a stock of corn pop up out of the blue in the corner of my backyard earlier this year. (Probably came from a birds butt flying over the backyard because I didn’t planted.) Unfortunately a storm came through, tore apart my privacy fence which fell on the one stock of corn that I had in the yard. Never got a chance to see what kind it was but now that I know corn will grow in my backyard, I am definitely getting me some of these rainbow corn seeds. They are absolutely beautiful.
I would also like to state that I am new to subscribing to Navigage Patch and just love the colorful where you tell your stories. Sure wish I would have stumbled across this sooner but glad I finally did.
Greg says
Welcome to The Navage Patch, Bren! Do get yourself some glass gem seeds for next year, and make sure you protect the corn stalks from wind – that’s their number one enemy. I’m so glad you are enjoying my stories. If you haven’t already, you may want to check out our “About Us” section – it’s part 1 of a very long story that I’ve been writing for the past couple of years >>> https://www.thenavagepatch.com/about-us/
Sandy R says
Wow, I never knew corn like this existed! it’s just beautiful, way prettier than any “Indian corn” I’ve ever seen. Would love to see some pictures of how you use it to decorate.
Greg says
I know, it’s incredible, right? I’m sure you’ll be seeing those cobs crop up in our project pictures this fall! 🙂
Frances Batson says
I love this. I will grow some next year.
Greg says
You’ll love it, Frances!
Catherine Williams says
That is the most beautiful crop i have ever seen,can’t wait to see what you and Handan create with it. Got to try and find this seed for next year on the plot, if only to confuse the old fuddy duddys that seem to spend more time watching what i’m doing and commenting on it than tending their own allotments.
Greg says
I hope you’re able to find it, Catherine! Even the 10-foot-tall stalks should get your neighbors talking!
Georgia L Neinas says
I enjoyed your article and will try growing some of the glass gem corn in my garden next year, but……..I must disagree with one of your statements. Connecticut can’t have the best sweet corn. That is grown in Iowa. Stop by some summer’s day and we’ll feed you a few ears.
Franki says
Bless my soul…that is darned purdiest corn ever…and, I’m a Cornhusker from Nebraska!! Does it pop in Technicolor…franki
Danielle says
I discovered this corn this year as well and promptly planted over 70 seeds of it. I planted late so my stalks should be ready right around the first week of October, and I can say it grows just a well in sunny, hot North Carolina as it does on Connecticut! My stalks are averaging a bit over seven feet tall and ears began to form around two weeks ago. I’m hoping to get enough to put aside seed for next year as well as making popcorn gifts for people after Thanksgiving passes and it’s decorative purpose is done!
Greg says
Awesome, Danielle! It really is fun to grow. Send us picks of your harvest – we’d love to see it!
Michelle Leslie says
Wowza, those are beautiful beyond. How on earth does it make all those colors. Mother Nature at her very best <3
Greg says
It’s amazing, right? Can you grow corn where you are? You should try some!
Maigwen says
Wow, what a beauty! Is it only for decoration or you can eat it too? I imagine my kids having a corn like this for dinner 🙂
I saw that corn in a seed shop last year and though it was photoshop and did not buy it… Maybe next year, as this year was my sweet corn debut and now I know the mistakes I made growing it.
Greg says
Hi Maigwen, you can dry the kernels and pop them into popcorn or grind it into corn meal, but corn like this doesn’t taste great on the cob. Sure won’t hurt you though, and hey, with enough butter and salt, anything tastes good, right? 🙂
Maggie Martin says
Holy Cow, or Holy Corn! This is amazing stuff! Thank you for sharing.
Just found you guys and I am really glad I did.
I will make the attempt to get some of this to grow next year, keep a good thought and wish me luck.
Greg says
Thank you, Maggie, and welcome! Good luck with your corn next year – let me know how it goes!
Tina says
Did you ever pop any of the corn, if so was the popcorn colorful as well?
Greg says
Hi Tina, yes I did try to pop some. The popcorn is standard white, but it wasn’t the most flavorful popcorn and it didn’t pop as big or as fully as commercial brands, so I just tried the one ear.
Debbie Zaputil says
Does anyone sell dryed glass gem corn with the husk on? Would love to have some for my fall crafting projects. Can find places to buy seed but nothing on harvested corn. Thank you.
Greg says
I’ve only seen it sold like that at small farm stands in New England. I’m not sure if it’s sold on a larger scale by anyone else.
Karen Sawyer says
My son grew some beautiful glass gem corn and sent me some. I dried it and had planned to string for jewelry . . . but some kind of bugs got into it and ruined it! I’d like to know if anyone else has tried using it for jewelry.
BTW, I love your site! Your humor, clever ideas and other info, are right “up my alley”!
Greg says
Ooooh, I think it would make a pretty cool necklace! Merry Christmas, Karen!
Sherry says
I have loved gem corn for several years but had never heard the history of it. Thank you for posting this!! And I assumed it was complicated to grow for some reason, even though I’m a Kentucky girl and I’m very familiar with corn crops. I’m definitely gonna give it a go!
Greg says
It was the easiest thing in the world, Sherry! Go for it!
Lesley E says
I have been looking at this corn on line for years and with spring just about to get sprung down here in New Zealand I have finally managed to get some seeds and started them with a little bit of bottom heat. They’ll go into the ground in a couple of weeks as temperatures rise… then maybe unicorns will come poop on my place too.
Greg says
Awesome! Send pics of your harvest! 🙂