Until it was destroyed in 1591 by Cortez the Aztec civilization in central Mexico flourished. Not much survived the conquest but Black Aztec corn is one thing that did. Humble seeds can still be planted, reproduce and provide living, tactile hints of the past.
The corn produces beautiful slender ears about eight inches long. They have black kernels making them unique conversation pieces when served at a dinner or restaurant. The plants should be grown in summer when danger of frost has receded. For germination they prefer soil temperatures of about sixty five degrees Fahrenheit and a rich loam. The ears will be produced in about eighty days and may be eaten at the milky stage or allowed to dry and ground into a blue-black corn powder
Maize was the staple diet of the Aztec people. They ate it in many ways. It was probably eaten fresh, but was also dried and used to make tortillas and tamales. These were made from dried seeds that had been crushed and made into a paste before being cooked and eaten with other foods. The best way to enjoy the unique taste is to take soft ears from the stalk and boil them quickly.
Various methods were used to produce this staple crop. It may have been grown under normal summer rainfall conditions as maize is grown to-day. In hilly areas there were terraces, and in the lowlands canals were used to irrigate flat fields. Being an adaptable plant corn was grown in all these different ways.
It is a fascinating hobby to grow seeds that have a genetic connection with an ancient civilization. It is like recreating the past. The experience culminates in eating succulent vegetables just as they were tasted by people thousands of years ago.
Growing older strains of plants also serves an important environmental function. An alarming number of plant species become extinct every year and so do strains. As plants fall out because they are no longer commercially viable so the diversity of life on earth becomes thinner and more vulnerable.
Plants like Black Aztec corn may have limited commercial value when compared with modern hybrid strains of maize but they still play a valuable role in the whole composition of life on the planet. They are part of a diversity that is needed to protect us against future threats. A disease or pest could quite easily evolve to threaten existing productive plant species. That could send plant breeders back into the much needed diversity of life to search for ancient secrets to survival that could be used to meet new challenges.
Want to find out more about Black Aztec Corn, then visit Shannon Swchartz’s site on how to choose the best Corn for your needs.