Painted Hill Organic Sweet Corn

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Zea mays

$4.99

Pkt(≈100 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: 3 oz (≈450 seeds)
Certified Organic
~ 70 days. Multi-colored corn bred for fresh eating and perfect for summers in the Midwest! It's a joy to peel back the husk to discover kernels ranging from deep blue to pale yellow, brick red to sunset orange, and everything in between. Bred by Alan Kapuler of Peace Seeds in Oregon, Painted Hill came from a cross between a classic heirloom white sweet corn, Luther Hill, and Painted Mountain, a diverse strain of cold-hardy, multi-colored flour corn that is the life work of Dave Christensen from Montana. This variety can germinate in cooler soils which makes it ideal for growing in the north. Ears are about 7" long and can be eaten as sweet corn or left to mature on the plant for dried corn for cornmeal. While referred to as "sweet" corn, the flavor is less sweet but more complex than hybrid super-sweet varieties, and it has a satisfying starchy texture that is filled with extra nutrients and antioxidants. Color darkens over time, so expect softer colors at the fresh eating stage compared to the deeply saturated color of the mature ears. Fun for kids!

Corn needs fertile soil with a lot of compost/manure. Corn is wind pollinated so you should grow at least 16 corn plants (plant in a block – not in a row) so that enough pollen from the tassels will land on the silks to pollinate all of the kernels to produce full ears of corn. Not enough space for 16 plants? You can hand pollinate your corn (look online for instructions). Plant corn seeds after the soil has warmed to at least 65° (5/20-6/15). Plant seeds 1-2" deep, 6” apart in rows 36” apart (thin plants to 12” apart). Plant at least 4 rows of 4 plants in a block. Days to germination: 3-12. You can also start corn seeds inside and tranplant outside 5/20-6/15. This variety of corn has short plants so don’t grow pole beans on it or the beans may take over the corn.