Is it tacky to grow corn in the front yard?

[Anonymous]

There are some great books on creating attractive edible landscapes---different from the "rows of vegetables in the 40 x 70 rectangular plot" of my southern childhood. This is one of my favorites:

http://www.amazon.com/Gaias-Garden-Home-Scale-Permaculture-Edition/dp/1603580298/ref=pd_sim_b_8

This one is particular good for lots the size of OP's. There are other books (The Bountiful Container e.g.) for those of us who live closer in.
Why stop at corn, OP?

[Anonymous]

Go for it! Don't care. Have better things to worry about in my life than what my neighbors decide to plant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a farmer? I don't think the soil and climate around here is appropriate for corn.

You're being sarcastic, right?

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's tacky. We have several neighbors here who have beautiful vegetable gardens in their front yard. Some even share their produce!

If we all could grow a small garden, we could help stamp out hunger.

Unfortunately, I don't have a green thumb, so no garden here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP said she lives on an acre. I'm guessing those opposed live on a tiny fraction of that.

Grow whatever you want, OP. It's your yard.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, what??

Things that are tacky:
Inviting yourself to a party
Miniskirts at the office
Cutting in line
High heels on preschoolers

How does "growing vegetables" make this list??

Growing vegetables IN THE FRONT YARD.

Back yard? Fine.
Front yard? No.

I really truly don't understand. Do you believe vegetables are ugly? Veggie plants are gorgeous, and a well-tended veggie garden is an extremely pretty piece of landscaping.

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the demographics are for the responses. I would expect those younger than 35 and more highly educated are probably more likely to not be bothered by front yard vegetables than the Clint Eastwood retired auto worker demographic.

For the record, I'm 40, highly educated and HHI of $500k and would be fine with tasteful gardening that includes vegetables wherever they would grow best.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP.
Nope, I don't think it's tacky. I think it's great.

With the following caveat: depending on how far we're talking from the road, car exhaust and particulate matter can be a concern on your produce.

[Anonymous]

I would be all about growing corn in my front yard, to feed my backyard chickens!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the demographics are for the responses. I would expect those younger than 35 and more highly educated are probably more likely to not be bothered by front yard vegetables than the Clint Eastwood retired auto worker demographic.

For the record, I'm 40, highly educated and HHI of $500k and would be fine with tasteful gardening that includes vegetables wherever they would grow best.

That's a strange assumption! I'm 33 with a grad degree and I think it's a great idea. Actually I'd bet the highly educated younger posters WOULD support this, knowing about the benefits of gardening (environmental, etc).

[Anonymous]

i live in the city and have wondered why more people dont utilize their yards this way. so many yards are just a wasted spot with no good seating or terrible landscaping.
i think it depends on your house and landscaping.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it late in the season to plant corn? Anyways, I think it's just fine. I agree veggie gardens can be beautiful.

[Anonymous]

On the off- off- off- chance OP is actually serious, I'd be more concerned about the safety ramifications. A locksmith and several others who came to my house told me the shoulder-high shrubs around the front were a good hiding place for someone up to no good.

I cut them down. I didn't want any surprises. If it had been just one person who said that, it'd be a different story. But every male who came around said the same thing.

They all said the same thing about the skylights on my flat roof too - easy access to the inside - but I kept those.

Corn might present the same type of shield. But this really depends on where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care if its tacky or not, but why grow corn? It is really cheap to buy it. Grow something else. Or better yet, stop eating corn.

A) freshly picked corn is superior to anything you buy
B) it's really cool to watch your plants grow from seed
C) it's educational
D) corn isn't cheap but seeds are!
E) you can make Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations from the stalks and ears
F) if you grow popcorn, it's even more fun than sweet corn.

D through F are most assuredly irrelevant and will not happen. C could easily be executed with house plants.

A is also pretty subjective if you know where to shop. Is it better than the crap at Safeway? Sure.

Seriously, if we could make popcorn with unused corn from stalks, more people would do it, ditto for decorations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the demographics are for the responses. I would expect those younger than 35 and more highly educated are probably more likely to not be bothered by front yard vegetables than the Clint Eastwood retired auto worker demographic.

For the record, I'm 40, highly educated and HHI of $500k and would be fine with tasteful gardening that includes vegetables wherever they would grow best.

That's a strange assumption! I'm 33 with a grad degree and I think it's a great idea. Actually I'd bet the highly educated younger posters WOULD support this, knowing about the benefits of gardening (environmental, etc).

That's what this says - younger and better educated would support (or not mind) if their neighbors grew corn in their front yard.