Corn on the cob

One of the side-benefits of working for Shell Development's Agricultural Chemicals division way back when (in beautiful Modesto, CA) was that they would release their control plots to the staff when studies were complete. The control plots were organically grown crops, so we would go out in the fields with a backpacking stove and a pot of water, pick the ears of corn from the control plot and shuck and cook them on the spot. Without question, the best corn on the cob I've ever eaten. That''s also where I learned to spot Heliothis zea and also how to deal with it.

That''s also where I learned to spot Heliothis zea and also how to deal with it.

My dad grew corn in the garden when we lived in Omaha NB. We had problems with both caterpillars (most likely Heliothis zea) and with smut fungus. It turns out that smut-blighted corn kernels are edible, but even if we'd known that we'd have considered it too gross to contemplate.

-Paul W.

That''s also where I learned to spot Heliothis zea and also how to deal with it.

My dad grew corn in the garden when we lived in Omaha NB. We had problems with both caterpillars (most likely Heliothis zea) and with smut fungus. It turns out that smut-blighted corn kernels are edible, but even if we'd known that we'd have considered it too gross to contemplate.

-Paul W.

Corn smut = gourmet huitlacoche.

A few drops of mineral oil on the silk prevents the corn ear worm from entering.

[Jenise]

On the flip side, I love eggplant but not so sure about eating that one raw!

Right, that's an exception! Okra too.

My wife took a trip last week that involved flying to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and then driving with a friend to Northern Wisconsin. While driving through Wisconsin, they came across a sign advertising "Honey-dipped Corn". When they saw the second such sign, they stopped and picked some up. It turned out that the corn was not literally dipped in honey; this was the name of the variety. She said it was the best corn she'd ever had.

One of the side-benefits of working for Shell Development's Agricultural Chemicals division way back when (in beautiful Modesto, CA) was that they would release their control plots to the staff when studies were complete. The control plots were organically grown crops, so we would go out in the fields with a backpacking stove and a pot of water, pick the ears of corn from the control plot and shuck and cook them on the spot. Without question, the best corn on the cob I've ever eaten. That''s also where I learned to spot Heliothis zea and also how to deal with it.

You worked for Shell in Modesto? That's quite a city. I have another friend who worked there back in the day, I believe in an analytical chemistry lab.

One of the side-benefits of working for Shell Development's Agricultural Chemicals division way back when (in beautiful Modesto, CA) was that they would release their control plots to the staff when studies were complete. The control plots were organically grown crops, so we would go out in the fields with a backpacking stove and a pot of water, pick the ears of corn from the control plot and shuck and cook them on the spot. Without question, the best corn on the cob I've ever eaten. That''s also where I learned to spot Heliothis zea and also how to deal with it.

You worked for Shell in Modesto? That's quite a city. I have another friend who worked there back in the day, I believe in an analytical chemistry lab.

I was doing computational chemistry and hobnobbing with the organic chemists and biologists by and large, but it's possible I'd know your friend. It wasn't a huge operation (and got sold to Dupont a few years after I left).

We were recently talking about corn smut (huitlacoche). Coincidentally, when I shucked an ear of corn last night, the first inch or two of the cob was infected with huge, purple kernels. That is corn smut.

Incidentally, I was describing corn smut to my friend today, and he claims he has never seen a corn ear worm or the damage they cause at the end of the ear. I can't imagine any human on Earth never seeing either the worm or the damage.