List of sweetcorn varieties explained

This is a list of 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 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 eaten immediately after harvest.

Yellow su

• Early Sunglow, 62 days^[1]
• Sundance, 69 days
• Early Golden Bantam, 80 days (heirloom, open pollinated. Introduced in 1902, this became the first widely grown yellow sweet corn. 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)^[2]
• Iochief, 80 days (1951 AAS winner)^[3]
• True Gold, 80+ days (open pollinated selection from Golden Jubilee Hybrid)^[4]
• Golden Cross Bantam, 85 days (Introduced in 1933, this became the first widely grown hybrid sweet corn for both home gardens and commercial growers)^[5]

White su

• True Platinum, 80 days (open pollinated)^[6]
• Martian Jewels, 80+ days (open pollinated, unusual purple stalks and cobs)
• Luther Hill, 82 days (heirloom, open pollinated)^[7]
• Country Gentleman, 92 days (heirloom, shoepeg type, open pollinated)
• Silver Queen, 92 days^[1]
• 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.)^[8]

Bicolor su

• Double Standard, 73 days (open pollinated)
• Butter & Sugar, 75 days
• Honey & Cream, 84 days^[9]

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)
• 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)
• Double Red, 80+ days (open pollinated, white turning dark red at maturity)^[11]

Sugary Enhanced (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, it 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
• Spring Treat, 67 days^[12]
• Sugar Buns, 72 days^[9]
• Kandy King, 73 days
• Bodacious R/M, 75 days^[9]
• Incredible, 83 days
• Miracle, 84 days
• Kandy Korn EH, 89 days^[13]

White se

• Spring Snow, 65 days^[12]
• Sugar Pearl, 73 days^[12]
• Whiteout, 73 days^[12]
• Cloud Nine, 77 days^[12]
• Silver King, 82 days (se version of Silver Queen)^[1]
• Argent, 86 days^[9]

Bicolor se

• Silver N Gold, 65 days
• Sugar Baby, 65 days
• Bon Jour, 70 days^[14]
• Trinity, 70 days^[9]
• Bi-Licious, 72 days
• Temptation, 72 days
• Luscious, 73 days^[12]
• Ambrosia,^[15] 75 days
• Who Gets Kissed?, 78+ days (open pollinated)^[16]
• Precious Gem, 80 days^[12]
• Peaches and Cream Mid EH, 83 days^[1]
• Delectable R/M, 84 days^[9]

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.^[17] 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
• Takeoff, 69 days
• Early Xtra Sweet, 70 days (1971 AAS winner)^[3]
• Summer Sweet Yellow, 74 days^[18]
• Krispy King, 78 days^[1]
• Challenger, 80 days
• Passion, 81 days
• Excel, 82 days
• Jubilee SuperSweet, 83 days^[1]
• Illini Xtra Sweet, 85 days^[17]
• Crisp ‘N Sweet, 85 days

White sh2

• Summer Sweet White, 73 days^[19]
• Treasure, 83 days
• How Sweet It Is, 85 days (1986 AAS winner)^[3]
• Camelot, 86 days

Bicolor sh2

• Summer Sweet Bicolor, 73 days^[20]
• Honey ‘N Pearl, 78 days (1988 AAS winner)^[3]
• Aloha, 82 days
• Dazzle, 82 days
• Hudson, 83 days
• Phenomenal, 85 days

Synergistic (sy)

Synergistic varieties combine differing genetics on the same ear. The first varieties developed of this type have 25% sh2, 25% se and 50% su kernels on the cob but now different combinations are possible. 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, though isolation may still be recommended for maximum sweetness.

Yellow sy

• Applause, 72 days^[21]
• Inferno, 73 days
• Honey Select, 79 days (2001 AAS winner)^[22]

White sy

• Illusion, 72 days
• Mattapoisett, 80 days^[12]
• Avalon, 82 days (White version of Providence)

Bicolor sy

• Sweetness, 68 days^[21]
• Pay Dirt, 70 days
• Revelation, 70 days
• Synergy, 76 days
• Montauk, 80 days (Delectable type)^[12]
• Kristine, 80 days (Cinderella type)
• Serendipity/Providence, 82 days
• Cameo, 84 days (Delectable type)^[21]

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 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.

Yellow

• Vision, 75 days

White

• Xtra-Tender 3473, 73 days
• Devotion, 82 days

Bicolor

• Kickoff XR, 69 days
• Anthem XR, 73 days
• Xtra-Tender 2573, 73 days^[23]
• Xtra-Tender 274A, 74 days^[24]
• Fantastic XR, 75 days
• Triumph, 75 days
• American Dream, 77 days (2018 AAS winner)^[25]
• Obsession, 79 days
• Xtra-Tender 282A, 82 days

Multicolor

• Wild Violet, 75 days (purple-white bicolor)^[26]

See also

• International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants

External links

• Corn varieties and tips on growing corn
• Purdue Ag Center corn varieties
• Growing Sweet Corn in Missouri
• Maize Genetics and Genomics Database

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rogers Fresh Market Sweet Corn . 2012-01-16.
2. Web site: Golden Bantam . 2012-01-10.
3. Web site: AAS Winners . 2012-01-16.
4. Web site: Biography, Alan M. Kapuler Ph.D . 2023-01-19.
5. Book: Hallauer, Arnel . Specialty Corns, 2nd Ed . 0-8493-2377-0 . 171 . 2001 . CRC Press.
6. Web site: Honoring Plant Breeder Alan Kapuler . 2013-03-13.
7. Web site: Luther Hill Sweet Corn . 2021-12-21.
8. Web site: Heirloom Corn Types & Planting Tips. 2022-01-02 . 16 May 2015 .
9. Web site: Crookham SE/SU Series . 2012-01-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110909110102/http://www.crookham.com/category/products/sweet-corn-fresh-market/se-su . 2011-09-09 . dead .
10. Web site: Painted Hill Sweet Corn Seed . 2023-01-19.
11. Web site: Double Red Sweet Corn . 2019-01-05.
12. Web site: Harris Moran Sweet Corn. 2012-01-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20111231041156/http://www.harrismoran.com/products/corn.htm. 2011-12-31. dead.
13. Web site: Home and Market Garden Corn Production. 2023-09-13. New Mexico State University.
14. Web site: Bon Jour Bi-color corn . 16 Feb 2017.
15. Web site: dead . 2022-12-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203164520/https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/sweet-corn/ . HGIC 1308 Sweet Corn - Clemson University.
16. Web site: ‘Who Gets Kissed?’ sweet corn is a media darling . 18 Jan 2023.
17. Levey Larson. Debra. August 2003. Supersweet sweet corn: 50 years in the making. Inside Illinois. 23. 3. 2009-12-30. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012155831/http://www.news.uiuc.edu/II/03/0807/sweetcorn.html. 2008-10-12. dead.
18. Web site: Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn Yellow sh2.
19. Web site: Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn White sh2.
20. Web site: Abbott & Cobb Sweet Corn Bicolor sh2.
21. Web site: Crookham SY Series . 2013-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121212180036/http://www.crookham.com/category/products/sweet-corn-fresh-market/synergistic . 2012-12-12 . dead .
22. Web site: Honey Select sweet corn.
23. Web site: Xtra Tender 2573 . 2022-04-14.
24. Web site: 274A Xtra-Tender. 2022-01-22.
25. Web site: Corn, Sweet American Dream All-America Selections. all-americaselections.org. en-US. 2017-09-18.
26. Web site: Crookham Company Launches Purple and White Sweet Corn . 4 February 2020 . 2021-12-21.