List of sweetcorn varieties
This is a list of the most commonly cultivated varieties of sweet corn, and the approximate number of days from germination of corn plant to harvest. Unless otherwise noted with the term open pollinated, all varieties are hybrids.
Genetically modified varieties only available to large-scale commercial growers, such as Bt corn and glyphosate resistant corn, are not listed.
Standard (su)
The oldest type of sweet corn, which contains more sugar and less starch than field corn intended for livestock. Tends to be heartier in respect to planting depth, germination and growth than other types. Begins conversion of sugar to starch after peak maturity or harvest, and as such is best when harvested and eaten immediately.
Yellow su
- Earlivee, 60 days[1]
- Early Sunglow, 62 days[2]
- Seneca Horizon, 65 days
- Sundance, 69 days
- Early Golden Bantam, 80 days (heirloom, open pollinated. Introduced in 1902, this became the first widely grown yellow variety. The original strain is now often called 'Golden Bantam 8 Row' to indicate it has 8 rows of kernels on the ear. A number of "improved" strains exist with 12 or more rows of kernels on the ear.)[3]
- Iochief, 80 days, 1951 AAS winner[4]
- Merit, 80 days[5][6]
- Jubilee, 81 days[2]
- Golden Cross Bantam, 85 days (Introduced in 1933, this became the first widely grown hybrid sweet corn for both home gardens and commercial growers.)[7]
White su
- True Platinum, 80 days (open pollinated)[8]
- Country Gentleman, 92 days (heirloom, shoepeg type, open pollinated)
- Silver Queen, 92 days[2]
- Stowell's Evergreen, 98 days (heirloom, open pollinated. In northern climates or higher altitudes, this variety may not reach full maturity in the growing season. However, before the killing frost entire stalks may be harvested, including the partially mature ears, and hung in a barn or shed. Ears may then be picked for a month or more, hence the name evergreen.)
Bicolor su
- Sugar & Gold, 67 days
- Quickie, 68 days[1]
- Double Standard, 73 days (open pollinated)
- Butter & Sugar, 75 days
- Sugar Dots, 81 days
- Honey & Cream, 84 days[1]
Multicolor su
Multicolored varieties are usually at their sweetest when the mature color just starts to "blush" on the kernels.
- Hookers, 70 days (open pollinated, white turning blue at maturity)[9]
- Triple Play, 70 days (open pollinated, white-yellow bicolor turning partially blue at maturity)
- Painted Hill, 75 days (open pollinated, mostly white turning various pastels at maturity)[10]
- Black Mexican/Aztec, 76 days (heirloom, open pollinated, white turning blue-black at maturity)
- Bloody Butcher, 100 days (heirloom, open pollinated, 10' to 12' stalks, at maturity red to dark red kernels with some ears flecked with yellow and white; an occasional ear is entirely white or white flecked with red)
Sugary Extender (se)
Contains even more sugars in relation to starch than su types, and as such is able to retain sweetness for 2 to 4 days with proper refrigerated handling. Somewhat less hardy than su types. Is known as a "tender" kernel and as such does not lend itself to mechanical handling. Does not require isolation from su pollen, although it is preferred. Some seed catalogs don't distinguish the heterozygous se (one se parent) and homozygous se (two se parent) varieties, but if they do, the homozygous se varieties will be labeled either se+, (se se) or SE.
Yellow se
- Buttergold, 63 days
- Precocious, 66 days
- Spring Treat, 67 days[11]
- Sugar Buns, 72 days[1]
- Colorow, 73 days[11]
- Bodacious R/M, 75 days[1]
- Tuxedo, 75 days[11]
- Incredible, 83 days
- Merlin, 84 days
- Miracle, 84 days
- Kandy Korn EH, 89 days[2]
White se
- Spring Snow, 65 days[11]
- Sugar Pearl, 73 days[11]
- Whiteout, 73 days[11]
- Cloud Nine, 77 days[11]
- Alpine, 79 days
- Silver King, 82 days (se version of Silver Queen)[2]
- Argent, 86 days[1]
Bicolor se
- Sugar Baby, 65 days
- Fleet, 69 days (Quickie type)
- Bon Jour, 70 days[12]
- Trinity, 70 days[1]
- Bi-Licious, 72 days
- Temptation, 72 days
- Luscious, 73 days[11]
- Ambrosia, 75 days [13]
- Accord, 78 days
- Brocade, 80 days
- Lancelot, 80 days
- Precious Gem, 80 days[11]
- Absolute, 81 days
- Peaches and Cream Mid EH, 83 days[2]
- Delectable R/M, 84 days[1]
Multicolor se
Multicolored varieties are usually at their sweetest when the mature color just starts to "blush" on the kernels.
- Ruby Queen, 75 days (white turning dark red at maturity)
Supersweet (sh2)
Supersweet or shrunken-2 types have four to ten times the sugar content of normal sugar (su) types and with proper handling is able to be stored for up to 10 days.[14] Less hardy than even se types, requiring higher germination temperatures, precise planting depth and isolation from all other corn pollen for optimum results. The name derives from the shrunken, shriveled appearance of the dried kernel which is low in starch.
Yellow sh2
- Extra Early Super Sweet, 67 days
- Early Xtra Sweet, 70 days, 1971 AAS winner[4]
- Ravelin, 72 days
- Summer Sweet Yellow, 74 days[15]
- Krispy King, 78 days[2]
- Garrison, 79 days[2]
- Illini Gold, 79 days
- Challenger, 80 days
- Passion, 81 days
- Excel, 82 days
- Jubilee SuperSweet, 83 days[2]
- Illini Xtra Sweet, 85 days[14]
- Crisp ‘N Sweet, 85 days
White sh2
- Summer Sweet White, 73 days[16]
- Tahoe, 81 days
- Aspen, 83 days
- Treasure, 83 days
- How Sweet It Is, 85 days, 1986 AAS winner[4]
- Camelot, 86 days
Bicolor sh2
- Northern Xtra Sweet Bicolor, 67 days
- Summer Sweet Bicolor, 73 days[17]
- Radiance, 73 days
- Honey ‘N Pearl, 78 days, 1988 AAS winner[4]
- Aloha, 82 days
- Dazzle, 82 days
- Hudson, 83 days
- Phenomenal, 85 days
Synergistic (sy)
Synergistic varieties combine differing genetics on the same ear. Some varieties have 25% sh2, 25% se and 50% su kernels on the cob but each type varies. There is an increasing number of brand names and trademarks that cover specific genetic combinations under this general type. However, a common trait of all sy types is that isolation from other su and se varieties pollinating at the same time is not required to prevent starchy kernels, though isolation may still be recommended for maximum sweetness.
Yellow sy
- Applause, 72 days[18]
- Inferno, 73 days
- Honeytreat, 76 days
- Honey Select, 79 days, 2001 AAS winner[19]
White sy
- Silver Duchess, 78 days[18]
- Cinderella, 80 days[18]
- Mattapoisett, 80 days[11]
- Avalon, 82 days (White version of Providence)
- Captivate, 88 days[18]
Bicolor sy
- Frisky, 67 days (Fleet type)
- Polka, 69 days (Trinity type)
- Pay Dirt, 70 days
- Revelation, 70 days
- Renaissance, 73 days
- Charisma, 74 days
- Synergy, 76 days
- Montauk, 80 days (Delectable type)[11]
- Kristine, 80 days (Cinderella type)
- Serendipity/Providence, 82 days
- Cameo, 84 days (Delectable type)[18]
Augmented Supersweet
Varieties of the augmented supersweet type combine multiple gene types on top of sh2. These varieties have 100% of the kernels containing the sh2 gene, but also have se and su genes in some portion of the kernels. The Mirai varieties for example have sh2, se and su genes in all kernels.
The augmented supersweet varieties have tender kernels like the se varieties. Therefore, mechanical picking is not recommended.
As with other supersweets, these varieties must be isolated from su, se and sy types pollinating at the same time to prevent starchy kernels.
Note: The Xtra-Tender varieties have a series number that indicates the approximate days to harvest, indicated with dd in the numbers below. For example, Xtra-Tender 282A would have maturity of about 82 days.
Yellow
- Xtra-Tender 1ddA
- Xtra-Tender 11dd
- Mirai 131Y, 71 days[20]
- Mirai 130Y, 72 days[20]
- Vision, 75 days
- Mirai 002, 76 days[20]
White
- Xtra-Tender 3ddA
- Xtra-Tender 31dd
- Mirai 421W, 71 days[21]
- XTH 3673, 74 days
- Devotion, 82 days
Bicolor
- Xtra-Tender 2ddA
- Xtra-Tender 21dd
- Mirai 308BC, 71 days[22]
- Fantastic, 73 days
- Mirai 336BC, 73 days[22]
- Triumph, 75 days
- Mirai 301BC, 76 days[22]
- Stellar, 76 days
- Mirai 350BC, 78 days[22]
- Obsession, 79 days
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Crookham SE/SU Series". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Rogers Fresh Market Sweet Corn". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Golden Bantam". Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- 1 2 3 4 "AAS Winners". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ http://msucares.com/lawn/garden/vegetables/list/corn.html
- ↑ "Sweet Corn Production" (PDF). Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ↑ Hallauer, Arnel (2001). Specialty Corns, 2nd Ed. CRC Press. p. 171. ISBN 0-8493-2377-0.
- ↑ "Honoring Plant Breeder Alan Kapuler". Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ↑ "Hookers Sweet Corn". Retrieved 2013-12-15.
- ↑ "Painted Hill Sweet Corn Seed". Retrieved 2014-01-09.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Harris Moran Sweet Corn". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Bon Jour Bi-color corn".
- ↑ "HGIC 1308 Sweet Corn - Clemson University".
- 1 2 Levey Larson, Debra (August 2003). "Supersweet sweet corn: 50 years in the making". Inside Illinois. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 23 (3). Retrieved 2009-12-30.
- ↑ "Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn Yellow sh2".
- ↑ "Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn White sh2".
- ↑ "Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn Bicolor sh2".
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Crookham SY Series". Retrieved 2013-01-27.
- ↑ "Honey Select sweet corn".
- 1 2 3 "Mirai Hybrid Varieties Page - Yellow Hybrids".
- ↑ "Mirai Hybrid Varieties Page - White Hybrids".
- 1 2 3 4 "Mirai Hybrid Varieties Page - BiColor Hybrids".
External links
- corn varieties and tips on growing corn
- Purdue Ag Center corn varieties
- Growing Sweet Corn in Missouri
- Maize Genetics and Genomics Database