Corn question

[Topaz farm]

I have seen dent corn mentioned a few times, what is it?

[redbrick]

Dent corn is your basic field corn. As it dries, the soft starch in the center of the kernel shrinks more than the hard starch on the outer layer, causing a depression, or dent in the top of the kernel. The next time you make popcorn, take a look at a kernel, there's no dent because it's all hard starch. Sweet corn shrivels because it's all soft starch. And that's more info than you bargained for, isn't it? I guess I kicked into lecture mode, my bad!

[Topaz farm]

Thank you redbrick. I do know what field corn is. I walked my Granpa and Ol' Ada (mule) many a mile through the corn field. :D

[redbrick]

You'll have to excuse me if I explain too much. Sometimes I forget I'm not the only farm kid around! Around home, I'm used to getting blank stares when I open my mouth. For example, the engineer I work with (who, I might add, keeps horses!) had no idea that corn kernels are really seeds! Can you imagine? You would think if he's working with animals, he'd have a basic knowledge of agriculture. Maybe I assume too much.

[Topaz farm]

Oh no, you explained just fine. I just meant that if it had been called field corn I would have known. Though I didn't know about the starch and dents.

I grew up around my Grandparents and their fields of corn, watermelons and such. But, I don't know a whole lot about gardening.

Thank you, and keep explaining in detail.

[turnip]

Yeah, Redbrick, too much information is better than not enough!