Velarde Blue Corn carries the heritage of the Espanola Valley, where it has grown for generations along the Rio Grande. This flour corn produces ears 6 to 12 inches long dressed in striking blue, black, and turquoise kernels that are notably large and floury in texture. Recently cultivated by a partner farmer in Velarde, New Mexico, this variety was discovered by Native Seeds/SEARCH at a local market in 1994 and has been preserved and shared with gardeners ever since. Its dramatic coloring and substantial kernel size make it as striking in the garden as it is versatile in the kitchen.
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Moderate
3-10
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Moderate
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These ears showcase a mesmerizing palette of blue, black, and turquoise kernels that make them as visually stunning as they are productive. The large, floury kernels are ideally suited to grinding and traditional Southwestern preparations. Velarde Blue carries living history from the Rio Grande valley, where it continues to thrive in the high-altitude gardens of northern New Mexico. Growing this corn connects you to the agricultural traditions and knowledge of the communities where it originated.
Velarde Blue Corn's large, floury kernels make it particularly well suited to grinding into flour for traditional Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. The flour produced from these kernels is used for making tortillas, atole, cornbread, and other grain-based dishes that have long been central to the foodways of New Mexico and the broader Southwest. Its distinctive color also makes it valued by seed savers and gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and maintaining genetic diversity within corn crops.
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Harvest Velarde Blue Corn when the ears have fully matured and the kernels have hardened and dried on the stalk. The ears will have reached their full size of 6 to 12 inches and the kernels will have taken on their characteristic blue, black, and turquoise coloring. For flour corn, allow the ears to dry thoroughly before harvest, either on the plant or after removing them. Once harvested, continue drying the ears in a warm, well-ventilated location before shelling and using or storing the kernels.
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“Velarde Blue Corn has deep roots in the Espanola Valley of northern New Mexico, where it has been cultivated along the Rio Grande for generations. In 1994, Native Seeds/SEARCH discovered this variety at a local market in Velarde, New Mexico, recognizing its significance and securing seeds to preserve it. The organization partnered with local farmers in Velarde to continue growing and stewarding the variety, ensuring that this regional heirloom would not disappear. Through this preservation work, Velarde Blue has been rescued from the risk of genetic loss and made available to gardeners and seed savers beyond its original growing region.”