Knee-High by the…

If you can make jello salad with marshmallows six different ways you might know what I’m talking about.  Actually if you’ve been on the internet anytime in the last 15 years you’ll definitely know what I’m talking about.  Those lists.  You know, 15 ways to tell you’re the mother of toddlers.  (Write checks with the crayons in your purse.)   8 things both college and preschool students do.  (Wear your backpack on both shoulders.) And 23 ways to know you’re from Missouri. (That’d be the marshmallow salad.)

And while making salad from jello and marshmallows is a legitimate way to assess your geographical origins, there is always one notation on these lists that suggests knowing the corn should be knee-high by the 4th of July is a trait Midwesterners share.

This one drives me nuts.

It is true that corn in years past didn’t grow as tall as corn today, but I’d never claim to be old enough to tell you if this adage once held any truth at all. Just let me assure you that corn standing two foot tall at any point in July is a sure sign of trouble for today’s farmer.

In fact our earliest planted corn has tassels and silks already. Tassels are these on top:

And silks are the pollen tubes that will fertilize each grain of corn.

So now you know, knee-high by the 4th of July is a rural myth. 😉 I need to start my own list: Things you know if you’re a Daddy’s Tractor follower!