[Swing Swang]

Exactly 3 months after sowing my mielies are still growing - no tassels yet, but just the hint of silks - this is now the 12th year that I've been experimenting with this crop and, fingers crossed, with a warm August I could actually get a crop. Picture for those of you who are interested in this type of maize:

[snowdrops]

What do you use it for, corn on the cob?

[Swing Swang]

Yes - but the flavour is savoury rather than sweet, and the texture is chewy/doughy - goes well with melted butter and pepper.

The other thing that it's used for is mielie bread - a 'loaf' that is steamed in a can and which has quite a moist texture.

I've tried to get a crop for the last 12 years and have just kept making some year on year adjustments as the bottom line is that the UK growing season is about 2 weeks too short. I would have given up had it not been for the fact that David Mwanaka of http://www.mwanakafreshfarmfoods.com manages to get a commercial crop of a very similar maize into the supermarkets every August.

His website is worth a look (I have no commercial or social association with David Mwanaka but have followed his success with interest in the media over the past few years)

[Swing Swang]

Ate the first ones today - in an ideal would my preference would be for a bit more maturity, but they got the nod of approval from my South African OH - pictures to follow:

[Swing Swang]

A bit late but here are some pics of my mielies:

Cut in half - 16 rows


Blanched and froze over 50 now:


Growing on the plants:


The corn is as high as an elephant's eye:


And by way of comparison this is the best that I managed to achieve last year - after 12 years of trials I've succeeded! Basically all down to seed variety, planting date, planting conditions, fertilization regimen etc, etc...

[Yorkie]

Well done