Overview

Cultivated by ancient civilizations all across the Americas, the corn plant, or maize, has remained a staple in the human diet and is the most commonly planted crop in the US today. The most planted types of commercially-grown corn, such as field corn and sweet corn, possess long green stalks and the well-known yellow kernels, but there are many other varieties available that differ in color, levels of sweetness, and purpose (e.g., livestock feed versus picnic corn-on-the-cob). For home gardens, we recommend picking a variety that will match your needs, climate, and level of growing expertise.

Golden Bantam is a popular heirloom, open-pollinated sweet corn. It’s on the sweeter side but won’t get quite as sugary as newer hybrids. It’s available in both 8- and 12-row varieties, and 4–6′ tall plants will generally produce at least two 5–7″ long ears with yellow kernels. An early variety, you can make multiple plantings to extend the harvest if your growing season is long enough. Golden Bantam loves the heat and does best when nighttime temperatures stay above 55°F.

  • Botanical Name: Zea mays var. saccharata
  • Plant Type: Vegetable
  • Variety: Golden Bantam
  • Growth Cycle: Annual
  • Season(s): Spring Summer
  • Climate Zone(s): 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
  • Light: Full Sun
  • Soil Type(s): Loamy
  • Yield: 2.0–3.5 lbs per plant
  • Garden Dimensions: 2 plants per square foot
  • Germination: 6–12 days
  • Maturity: 65–85 days
  • Harvest: 80–95 days

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed:
Seed Depth: 1–1.5″
Space Between Plants: 12″
Space Between Rows: 24–36″
Germination Soil Temperature: 70–80°F
Days for Germination: 6–12
Sow Indoors: Not recommended as corn doesn’t transplant well. If you need to start indoors due to a short growing season, plant corn in deep containers or biodegradable pots to limit root disturbance and transplant before plants are 6″ tall.
Sow Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after average last frost date or once soil is at least 65°F.

Climate

Grows best in warm weather and will not tolerate frosts. Requires soil temperatures of over 65°F for good germination.

Light

Natural: Full sun.

Artificial: Will grow under high output fluorescent or HID lamps. Needs at least 6 hours of light daily; however, more is preferred.

Growing Media

Soil: Prefers well-drained loamy soil with a high amount of organic matter. A pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 will keep plants healthy and nourished. Generally, the earlier you are planting, the lighter and sandier soil you want. Later crops will prefer a heavier soil.

Soilless: For container growing, use a soilless mix with plenty of nutrients.

Hydroponics: Thrives in hydroponic systems, including media beds, but will need a lot of space.

Aeroponics: Thrives in aeroponic systems, but will need a lot of space.

Care

Water: Requires moderate to high levels of water. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week. Use drip irrigation to prevent water from getting on leaves. Production will be best with consistently moist soils, but avoid overwatering or allowing water to pool at the base of plants. The most important time is the few weeks leading up to the corn’s silk production.

Nutrients: Requires high levels of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. Amend soil with cottonseed meal and/or compost before planting. Sidedress with compost, liquid kelp, or fish emulsion when plants are 6″ tall and again when they are knee high.

Foliar: Will benefit from foliar feedings of compost tea.

Mulching: Use mulch to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and keep weeds under control.

Covering: Protect young plants from light frosts using row covers. In cooler climates, grow corn in dark-colored raised beds or containers to warm the soil.

Other: Corn has shallow roots, so take care when weeding not to damage them.

Troubleshooting

Pest(s):

  • Birds
  • Corn borers
  • Corn earworms
  • Corn rootworms
  • Cutworms
  • Flea beetles
  • Raccoons
  • Spotted cucumber beetles

Disease(s):

  • Smut

Deficiency(s): A nitrogen deficiency will result in slow growth and reduced production.

Rotation and Companion Plants

Rotation: Plant corn after clover, beans, peas, or other nitrogen fixing crops. A 3- or 4-year rotation is recommended.

Companions: Grows well as a member of the Three Sisters. Avoid tomatoes.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest: Pick ears of corn off their stems carefully and with a slight twist when the silks are beginning to turn brown and dry out and the ear feels plump and full, usually about 3 weeks after silks first appear (earlier if growing in warm weather). You can check the ears by pulling the outer husk back and poking a kernel. Ripe kernels will emit a white milky sap; if underripe, the sap will be clear, and if overripe, it’ll be too creamy. It’s best to harvest in the morning when plants are still cool.

Storage: Keep ears of corn in the refrigerator for up to one week. The earlier you eat it after harvest, the sweeter the kernel will be. If stored too long, sugars convert to starch.

Other Info

History: The original 8-row Golden Bantam corn was developed and introduced in 1902 by W. Atlee Burpee. The improved 12-row type was selected and introduced by the Clark Seed Company of Milford, Connecticut in 1922.

Consumption

Preserve and Prepare

Preserve: Corn can be frozen fresh or blanched and frozen for later use. Also try canning fresh kernels using a pressure canner.

Prepare: Sweet corn is a big part of traditional Latin American diets. Commonly paired with beans, the two plants together provide all the necessary amino acids for good health. Add fresh raw kernels to salads and salsas. Boil, grill, or steam and eat straight off the cob for a buttery afternoon snack.

Benefits

Nutritional: A gluten-free cereal, sweet corn is a good substitute for gluten products for those with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. Sweet corn is one of the best sources of dietary fibers as 100g can provide 5% of daily fiber. Sweet corn also possesses high levels of  ß-carotenes, vitamin A, flavanoids, lutein, xanthins, thiamin, zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, and ferulic acid.

Medicinal: Ferulic acid is being studied for potentially anti-cancer properties, while flavonoids may prevent lung and oral cavity cancers.

Culinary

Make the most of your next summer cookout with this Fire-Grilled Chili Lime Corn Cob recipe.

Resources

Helpful Links

Wikipedia

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