Ultra Early Blue Grain Corn

I saw a post recently from Orin a boot at Wheaton Labs where he asked for a sixty day blue grain corn.

My initial thought was "I don't think that exists" Carol Deppe suggests making sure it doesn't already exist as a first step. So looking for such a corn is a good first step here.

My second thought was "I would like to breed that"

Thoughts on how to do so:

Gaspe Flint x Papa's Blue.

If want a flour corn:

In the F2 and subsequent generations rigorously select for shortness of season AND flour type kernels AND Blue kernel color.

If want a flint corn:
Gaspe Flint x Blue Jade Sweet


In the F2 and subsequent rigorously select for shortness of season, flint type kernels, and blue color. Whole ears of the same type are best.

Better plan:

Gaspe Flint x shortest season blue flint you can find. I have some old seed for a Blue Mandan Flint that is actually multi colored. It would work though as kernel color selection is pretty easy. If it's viable.

Then select for blue and short season.

Potential problems: separating kernel types, blue might affect days to maturity, probably would take at least a few years.

Does kernel type affect days to maturity?

Does it already exist?

Museum of the fur trade has an "Early Blue Corn" that sounds a lot like Gaspe Flint in terms of plant size. Unfortunately it is out of stock. Still might be back in stock faster and for $5 vs. who knows how much time and energy to recreate? Hmm...