I got two calls today about planting corn so I decided I should post about the types of corn and things to consider when planting. First thing you should know is that there are three different types of corn, su, se and sh2. Standard corn or (su) is your field corn, it takes a while to mature and prefers warm temperatures and a fairly long season. It is great tasting when picked right off the stalk, but quickly turns its sugars to starch, so it is better if you eat it quickly. I haven’t planted very many varieties since I always plant Silver Queen when I do corn, but according to the Utah State corn fact sheet, Earlivee, Jubilee, and NK199 are good varieties for Utah. I personally love su corn.

Sugar enhanced or (se) has been genetically modified to be more sugary and not convert to starch as quick. It doesn’t necessarily mean its better, but if you get a chance to plant this corn then you should along with (su) corn. Recommended varieties include, Incredible, Sugar buns, Miracle, and Peaches and Cream.

Super sweet corn or (sh2) is supposed to be even sweeter than the other types, it should not be allowed to “tassle” at the same time as the other types. Cross pollination of this type makes both types not taste as good. Therefore, you should look at the maturity dates and make sure to plant so that they mature about 3 weeks apart. Recommended varieties include, Honey and Pearl, Phenomenal, How Sweet it Is, Supersweet Jubiliee.

One of the best ways to plant corn, assuming you have the room, is to plant so that you will get corn all season. Therefore, you buy 6 plus varieties that all mature at different dates, this will enable you to pick each day rather than it all coming on at once.

Now you need some room for corn, the reason for this is because they pollinate each other. At minimum you should have at least 3 rows approx. 15 feet long for decent pollination. Each silk leads to a kernel, if the silk is not pollinated then the kernel will not grow. That is why you see some corn with patches of kernels that don’t grow.

Corn is fairly easy to grow in Utah and now is the time to get it in the ground. Note: technically you should wait until danger of all frost has past, but I usually plant one week before frost free date.

Be sure to watch for pests, especially when it begins to tassle. Earwigs and worms love corn, I spray BT when silks begin to emerge to keep this problem under control.

UPDATE: 2010

I have ordered a newer type of corn called “Triplesweet” corn or “Synergistic”. This corn is 25% sugar enhanced and 75% super sweet kernels. I have heard good things so I am planting it this year. I am going to plant Serendipity and Honey Select, both from Park seed. They say that they need no isolation from other corn, which is the big plus for me and one of the main reasons I have stayed away from super-sweet varieties. I don’t have much room for corn and I would rather not stagger the planting dates.

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