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A revolution for corn lovers

Making It Grow Radio Minute

Back in the day, when Silver Queen sweet corn became widely available, it was transformational for corn on the cob lovers. Sweet corn differs from field corn it the actual amount of sugar versus starch it contains when mature. There is a mutant gene, referred to as the su gene that’s responsible for this wonderful difference. As soon as you pick sweet corn, the sugar starts converting to strach. Now a days there are many, many varieties with longer lasting sugar content, but the traditional mantra in the first silver queen days was to get the pot of water boiling, pick the corn, shuck it while you ran back to the house and pop it in the pot. Take it out, butter lavishly, and add salt and pepper to taste. Plan on three ears for each person, minimum.

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Amanda McNulty is a Clemson University Extension Horticulture agent and the host of South Carolina ETV’s Making It Grow! gardening program. She studied horticulture at Clemson University as a non-traditional student. “I’m so fortunate that my early attempts at getting a degree got side tracked as I’m a lot better at getting dirty in the garden than practicing diplomacy!” McNulty also studied at South Carolina State University and earned a graduate degree in teaching there.