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Sweet Corn — Zea mays

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Sweet Corn — Zea mays

layout: base.njk title: Sweet Corn description: Growing Sweet Corn in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual
Family: Poaceae (Grass)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: High (1-2" per week, critical during pollination)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 2-3 ears (sometimes more with side-shoots)
  • Per 10' row: 30-50 ears (plant in blocks for pollination)
  • Notes: Corn is wind-pollinated—plant in blocks of at least 4 rows, not single rows, for good kernel set. Isolate different types (sweet, dent, flint) by 250+ feet or timing to prevent cross-pollination affecting sweetness.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

Sweet Corn (for fresh eating)

'Golden Bantam'

  • Source: Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org)
  • Days: 80 days
  • Notes: Introduced 1902. Yellow kernels. Sweet, old-fashioned corn flavor. 8" ears. Open-pollinated. Standard for yellow sweet corn. Heat-tolerant.

'Stowell's Evergreen'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Introduced 1840s. White kernels. Exceptionally sweet, creamy. Late maturing. 10-12" ears. Historic American variety. Good for cooler summers.

'Country Gentleman'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Introduced 1890. White kernels, irregular rows (shoepeg corn). Very sweet. Small ears, prolific. Unique appearance. Good for canning.

'Silver Queen' (Heirloom Type)

  • Source: Multiple companies (note: modern hybrid differs from original)
  • Days: 92 days
  • Notes: White kernels. Exceptionally sweet, tender. Late maturing. Large ears. Original open-pollinated version rare; seek heirloom strain.

'Iochief'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: White kernels. Very sweet, creamy. Late variety. Good for cooler climates. 9-10" ears. Productive.

Dent/Flint Corn (for grinding, drying)

'Bloody Butcher'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 100-110 days
  • Notes: Red kernels, blood-red at tips. Dual-purpose (fresh or dry). 10-12" ears. Vigorous plants 10-12 feet tall. Historic American variety. Beautiful ornamental.

'Bloody Henry'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: Scottish heirloom. Red kernels. Cold-tolerant. Good for grinding. 8" ears. Plants 8 feet tall. Rare variety.

'Cherokee White Eagle'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Cherokee Nation heirloom. White flint corn. 8-10" ears. Good for grinding into meal. Traditional variety. Cultural significance.

'Glass Gem'

  • Source: Baker Creek
  • Days: 110-120 days
  • Notes: Cherokee/flint corn. Translucent kernels in rainbow colors (pink, purple, blue, green). Stunning ornamental. Not sweet—use for flour or decoration. Long season.

'Oaxacan Green'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Latin American seed sources
  • Days: 110 days
  • Notes: Mexican landrace. Blue-green kernels. Used for blue corn tortillas. Flour corn. Heat-loving. 10" ears. Traditional variety.

'Strawberry Popcorn'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Small red kernels, strawberry-shaped. Pops beautifully. Ornamental. Good flavor. Plants 5-6 feet. Fun for children.

'Japanese Hulless'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Small golden kernels. Pops without hulls (no hulls stick in teeth). Sweet flavor. Rare variety. Plants 6-7 feet.

'Longfellow'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: Yellow dent corn. Introduced 1840s. Named for poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (wrote about corn). Good for meal. Historic variety.

'White Cap Yellow Dent'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Yellow kernels with white caps. Dual-purpose (fresh or dry). 10-12" ears. Productive. Traditional American variety.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: 1. Choose healthy, vigorous plants with desirable traits (large ears, good kernel set, disease resistance) 2. Isolate from other corn varieties by at least 250 feet (corn cross-pollinates readily via wind) 3.

Leave ears on plants until fully mature—husks turn brown and dry, kernels hard 4. Harvest ears; pull back husks to check kernel maturity 5. Cure ears in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks 6.

Shell kernels by hand (rub ears together or use hand-crank sheller) 7. Winnow to remove debris—pour kernels between bowls in breeze 8. Ensure kernels completely dry (test by biting—should shatter, not dent) 9.

Store in glass jars with desiccant in cool, dry, dark place 10. Add oxygen absorber for long-term storage.

Isolation Distance: - Wind-pollinated: Corn cross-pollinates readily—pollen travels miles on wind - Minimum: 250 feet between varieties - For seed sale: 1/2 mile isolation or hand-pollinate and bag ears - Alternative: Temporal isolation—plant varieties 2+ weeks apart so they don't tassel simultaneously - Critical: Different types (sweet, dent, flint, popcorn) will cross, affecting sweetness and texture

Viability: 2-4 years under proper storage. Germination declines after year 2; test germination before planting.

Special Notes: - Save from at least 200 plants for genetic diversity (corn has high genetic variability) - For home use, save from 50+ plants minimum - Select for ear size, kernel quality, flavor, earliness, disease resistance, stalk strength - Only save from healthy plants - Label carefully—dried kernels of different varieties can look similar - Corn weevils infest stored corn—freeze seeds 48 hours before storage

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead