One of the joys of summer is still available, but this year the Lingley Brothers sweetcorn stands will be closing earlier in September than normal. Owner Toby Brown expects to run out of corn right after Labor Day because of this year’s weather….
Audio Player{AUDIO: ‘’My first plantings – like the first six – were fantastic. And then we got to June, and in June we got no rain and it was hot and dry. And my plantings for that were a lot harder to make when you’re trying to plant seed in dry dirt. So we’re going to go from above average to below average as far as how much corn we have to sell.’’}
Brown says the corn being sold at the roadside stands was picked that morning….
Audio Player{AUDIO: ‘’Every morning we get up at five and go out and see what we have, get wet and watch the sunrise. And get a little exercise.’’}
Brown says the first half of the season was phenomenal, but then things turned dry in June…
Audio Player{AUDIO: ‘’You know, I was nervous because of that dry June. And into part of July when the really good-looking planted corn was making an ear – either pollinating, or filling an ear, or whatever – and we were still dry, that maybe that would be affected. But we got just enough rain to kind of kick the can down the road – is what I’ve spent the season saying. Just enough – at the right time.’’}
Brown adds he feels very fortunate, even though his last three plantings failed. Because that late-planted corn failed to develop is why sweetcorn stands are expected to close in early September. But he says the corn being sold now is fantastic.
{Lingley Brothers Sweetcorn owner Toby Brown (right) and his son Josh. They are just part of the team that heads into the fields each morning.}
