US: Heavy rains, cool temperatures delayed sweet corn harvest
After a slow start, the area for sweet corn crop should improve as Summer goes on. "The first sweet corn harvested in the Summer of 2013 was of lower quality than in past years, but the mid-to-late season sweet corn varieties should be of excellent quality," said Thomas G. Ford, area commercial horticulture educator for Penn State Extension.
John Jolivette, owner of Jolivette Family Farms in West Salem, Wisconsin, said his 30 acres of sweet corn are finally ready for harvest after heavy rains delayed his crop. Jolivette said he typically starts to pick his crop July 15. This year, the harvest started 10 days later. That will push his eight week window to sell sweet corn into just six; maybe seven.
"If you get cold weather like we had, lots of rain, it will rot the seed. And if you got a low spot in the field, (it) gets too wet – we had so much rain this year we did have problems getting corn planted," Jolivette said.
In last year's heat, Jolivette said he started planting sweet corn in March. This year, he waited until April 28. Jolivette said he typically starts to pick his crop July 15. This year, the harvest started 10 days later. That will push his eight week window to sell sweet corn into just six; maybe seven.
Jolivette's business may be delayed, but they say it'll still be sweet. After a slow start, the area sweet corn crop should improve as Summer goes on.
Source: altoonamirror.com/wxow.com
