Vibrant Earth Seeds
*Now shipping!* No limit on number of packets per order
Zea Mays
Days to Maturity: 120-140
We are excited to announce another self-fertilizing landrace corn, this one originally from Gambia, Africa! Farmer Frank has been growing this variety out for 20 years in Georgia and then Massachusetts. He received it 20 years ago from an associate who traveled to the Gambian River Valley and collected seed from four different farmers. They grow a landrace corn for many generations with both temperate and tropical traits. Frank has been diligently selecting the corn for shorter day-length and shorter season for the past two decades. Corn with this slime trait can self-fertilize by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, via microbiota in the slimy mucilage on its aerial brace roots (see first photo).
Frank's Corn is disease resistant and drought resistant! It has a strong root system with deep taproots (see pic) that adds biomass to the soil.
An additional note from Frank: "This corn represents a different approach to solving the nitrogen fixing mystery. I'm working with some other investigators on the idea the nitrogen fixation occurs in a symbiosis of the corn plant with a nitrogen fixing bacterium that's passed on in the seed from one generation to the next. We believe properly made charcoal (biochar) has the ability to sequester the bacteria when conditions are unfavorable, as in when the soil is frozen or too dry, and release it to re-infect the soil when conditions are more favorable. We think this accounts for the phenomenal fertility of terra preta and milpa agriculture."
This article published by the American Society of Plant Biologists investigates the slime trait and its potential impact on revolutionizing agriculture by greatly reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen inputs. You can also learn more by watching this BBC documentary.
Help us distribute this open-pollinated slime trait widely!
Contact us if you need more bulk seed for a larger field planting or planting experiment.
See our other two self-fertilizing corn seeds here:
Rainbow Slime Corn Landrace
Tropical Slime Corn Landrace
Planting Instructions: Plant corn seeds 2" deep in late spring (or up to 4" deep in April-mid-May in sandy soil in the Southwest). Plant 5 seeds per hole, spaced 3-5 feet apart. No thinning is necessary.
Seed Saving Instructions: Pick corn cobs when fingernail does not dent kernels, as leaves are browning. Shuck cobs (remove leaves) and allow kernels to dry fully on the cob (May take 1-2 months. Use fan to hasten drying). Store seeds in a paper or mesh bag in a cool, dark and dry location.
Approx 50 Frank's African Slime Corn seeds per packet
Related Products
