National Corn on the Cob Day
About National Corn on the Cob Day
When is National Corn on the Cob Day? This holiday is always celebrated on June 11
Humans have cultivated corn for many thousands of years. Native to Mexico, it has been grown as a domestic crop 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. So, it is only fitting that it gets its own holiday. National Corn on the Cob Day arrives today in a sweet way. This June 11 holiday encourages us to celebrate and enjoy this tasty summertime delight. Millions of people love sweet corn on the cob. As summer nears, we can’t wait to bring out the salt and pepper, and chomp down on a freshly cooked ear or two, or perhaps three.
Plainview, Minnesota celebrates National Corn on the Cob Day in a big way. They hold a parade and other festivities.
Did you Know? Sweet Corn originated in Mexico. It dates back to about 9,000 BC.
Grab your corn holders. To celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day, have it your way. Boil, roast, steam, or grill it for dinner!
Tip: Sweet Corn loses its sweetness rapidly. Home gardeners know to pick it just before it is cooked. When buying sweet corn at a store or farm market, make sure it is fresh-picked. If you grow it in your garden, pick it moments before you cook it. You will taste the difference.
Other Names: Most of us call it sweet corn. However, it is also called “corn-pole”, “corn stick”, and “sweet pole”.
More Resources: Learn more about sweet corn
For the Record
The average corn stalk grows 8 feet tall. Some varieties grow a little shooter, and some grow a little taller. However, the largest corn stalk ever grown was 45 feet tall! It was grown in a research greenhouse in the Alleghany region of New York State. And yes, the stalk was staked to help keep it from falling over.
In 2019, farmer Jesús Nazario Elías Moctezuma, grew a huge ear of corn. It measured 39.5 centimeters long. But, it wasn’t a world record. In 2016, another Mexican farmer grew a 45-centimeter-long ear of corn. And, an unofficial rumor claims a 60-centimeter ear was grown in 1924.
Is it a vegetable or a grain.? The United States considers corn a vegetable. The rest of the world classifies it as a grain.
Uses for Corn Cobs
Don’t toss the corn cobs in the trash. Here are some uses for it:
- Put them in the compost pile
- Feed farm animals.
- Hang them up on a string for a day or two and birds will munch on them.
- Make a corn cob pipe.
- Dry and sue them for fire starters.
If you cut corn off of the cob, there’s plenty leftover on the cob:
- Make cob jelly.
- Milk the leftover cobs for making corn. stock.
- Use dried cobs to smoke meats.
Corn Trivia and Fun Facts
Here are some fun corn trivia and fun facts to chew on as you chew on an ear of corn:
- The average ear of corn has 800 kernels in 16 rows.
- Only about 1% of corn is sweet corn for human consumption. The rest is primarily field corn grown to feed cattle and to make ethanol, an additive to gasoline.
- The Mexican word for corn is “Maize”.
- The United States is the biggest corn producer in the world, followed by China, Brazil, and Argentina. The U.S. alone accounts for over a third of the world’s corn production.
- The state of Iowa is the largest corn producer in the United States. It produces over 2.5 billion bushels of corn per year.
- Broom corn is not a sweet corn or cattle corn plant.
- A corn cob is edible when it is a soft, baby cob.
- Corn syrup is a major ingredient in soft drinks. A bushel of corn sweetens about 400 cans or bottles of soda pop.
How to Celebrate National Sweet Corn on the Cob Day
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day:
- Buy ears of sweet corn fr your grocery store or pick it from your garden if it is ripe.
- Cook it any way you’d like.
- Cut the kernels off the ears and make a recipe.
- Plant sweet corn in your garden.
- Use the leftover cobs.
Today's Quote
“The four most important words for a successful marriage is “I’ll do the dishes”. – – Author Unknown
Comment: I thought it was only two words… Yes, Dear.
History and Origin of National Corn on the Cob Day
Our research did not find the creator of this special day. We also did not discover when this annual tradition began.
We found it a bit odd to celebrate this special day in June. In mid-June, sweet corn is still being planted in home gardens in most parts of the country. In most areas, homegrown sweet corn is not ready to harvest for several more weeks. However, southern-grown sweet corn is now available at your local grocery store.
We found no documentation in congressional records to confirm that this is truly a national day. Nor, did we find a presidential proclamation.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is important to distinguish true National days.
This Day in History
Here are some things that happened on this day:
- Troy is sacked and burned. Estimated date 1184 B.C.
- The talent show “American Idol” premiers on FOX television channel. It moved to ABC in 2018. (2002)
- Football Coach Vince Lombardi was born on this day in 1913.
More June11 Holidays
More About Today
Flower of the Day: Broom Corn
Recipe of the Day: Grilled Corn on the Cob
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