European explorers first learned about popcorn from Native Americans, but there is evidence that popcorn was actually around long before that. Fossil corn pollen has been found in Mexico City dating back 80,000 years! Whatever its origins and however long it has been around, popcorn is definitely one of the most popular snack foods in America.

Popcorn is not only a tasty treat, shared by many families while watching a movie on television, growing it can also be a fun gardening activity – one that you might want to get the whole family involved in, especially if you have young children.

To begin with, you will need popcorn seeds. Seeds can be purchased from most home gardening seed catalogues but it is also possible to use popcorn bought from your local supermarket. If you do decide to purchase your seeds from the supermarket, make sure they are plain popcorn kernels and not a microwave brand. You cannot grow microwave popcorn. Once you have your seeds, you will also need a glass jar, paper towels, soil and water.

Your next step will be to soak a few paper towels in water and then put them inside your glass jar. In the jar and on top of the wet paper towels, you will then place a few popcorn seeds. Next, place the jar in a spot where it will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. The seeds must be kept relatively warm at all times.

Over the next few weeks, you should see the kernels start to sprout and grow. If, at any time, the paper towels get too dry just add a little water to moisten them. Once the kernels have started to sprout, you can move them into a pot with soil. The soil should also be kept moist at all times. Once the soil in the pot is thoroughly warmed, the popcorn sprouts will be ready for transfer to your garden. Before transferring the plant, however, be sure that threat of frost is completely gone. Wait at least ten to fourteen days after the last spring frost before transferring your plant to your garden. It takes approximately ninety days for a popcorn plant to mature entirely.

The popcorn should remain in the garden until the stalks are brown and dry. Once they are completely dry, remove the ear by twisting and snapping the husk from the stalk. Next, you must carefully remove the dried husk from each ear. Cure the kernels by spreading the ears out and placed in an area where they will have warm air circulating around them.

Once the kernels have been curing for about a month, you can pop out the kernels from the ears simply by twisting them until they drop out. Your homegrown popcorn is now ready for eating and you and your family are in for a real treat. Whether you put a special topping on your popcorn or sticking to the traditional butter and salt topping, you can be sure that this popcorn will be some of the best popcorn you’ve ever tasted!

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Whether eaten straight from the tree, in a pie, squeezed into juice or cider, or made into a sauce, just about everyone loves apples. And, with the variety of colors, tastes, and textures to choose from, it’s no wonder apples are such a popular fruit.

The first apple trees, called Crab-trees or Wild Apple Trees, originated in Britain and are the ancestors of all the apple trees grown throughout the world today. Growing an apple tree can be fun and rewarding, but there are several factors to take into consideration before planting your tree. Number one on this list of considerations is, of course, the type of apple tree you want to grow and since there are so many different types of apple trees to choose from, you should spend some time thinking about this before you decide. Remember too, that if you plan to do a lot of cooking with the apples that you grow, you need to pick an apple tree that will give you good cooking apples. Empire, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Stayman, and Rome apples are all excellent choices for baking and cooking. Gala, Red Delicious, Braeburn, and Fuji apples aren’t as good for cooking apples and are best eaten fresh.

Another consideration when choosing which apple tree to plant is the size (its height and spread) apple tree that will best suit your garden. An apple tree’s size is dependent on its rootstock. Thus, before purchasing an apple tree, be sure to first ask what type of rootstock it has. If the rootstock is a seedling, the apple tree will grow to be a full size or standard size tree. If, on the other hand, the rootstock is size-controlled or dwarfing, then the tree will grow to be smaller than a full size tree. Fortunately, the rootstock does not affect the type or quality of the fruit the tree produces. It does affect how quickly the tree will bear fruit and can affect its ability to resist pests and disease.

Choosing the right location to plant your tree is also essential to successfully growing a quality apple tree. Apple trees can grow in most types of soil as long as there is enough water and sufficient drainage, as well as sufficient nutrients in the soil and a proper pH level. If at all possible, plant your tree at a slightly elevated level to help avoid over exposure to frost. When the tree is planted on a small hill, the cold air will flow down the hill and not accumulate around the tree. Also, your tree should receive enough direct sunlight so it should not be planted where it will receive too much shade from other trees or buildings. When selecting a site for your tree, you should also consider the tree’s spacing needs. The tree’s rootstock determines how much space a tree will need to grow. Also, make sure the soil surrounding the tree is free from weeds and grass. Grass that grows around the tree will compete with it for the water and nutrients in the soil and prevent the tree from reaching its full growth and productivity.

In addition to which tree to plant, what size tree to plant, and where to plant your tree, if your want to ensure the growth of a healthy tree that produces quality fruit, you must also learn how to properly plant and prune your tree, maintain healthy soil, add adequate fertilizer, and protect it from harmful pests and disease. It may seem like a lot of work, but once you taste the fruit of your labor, you will find it to be well worth your efforts.

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