South American Popcorn
South American Popcorn is an heirloom variety with golden kernels and a buttery flavor once popped. Strong stalks with 2-3 ears per plant. Zea mays everta. 105 days to maturity.
6,700 seeds per lb
Description
Check out our Corn Growing Guide to learn more about how to grow corn in your garden.
South American Popcorn is an open-pollinated, heirloom popcorn variety that was introduced in 1931. This is a yellow popcorn variety that produces mushroom-shaped popcorn once popped. This popcorn has been a favorite by many for years due to its buttery flavor and texture when popped.
South American Popcorn produces strong stalks on 5' tall plants with an excellent root structure. This helps to keeps the plants standing during high winds and heavy precipitation. Each stalk produces 2-3 ears which are 6-9" long. The husks will open when the corn matures, preventing any mold issues on the top of the ear. Some growers have reported yields close to 1 lb of kernels per stalk.
Popcorn should be planted in the spring after the last frost date. Corn can be grown throughout the warmer months up until fall, as long as time is permitted for harvest before the first frost. Succession planting is recommended with at least two plantings, one in early spring and one in late summer/early fall. Corn earworm pressure will be greater in the warmer months, but this can be alleviated by applying spinosad to silks and tassels once they appear.
We recommend planting South American Popcorn using a walk-behind planter like our Hoss Garden Seeder. Once plants emerge, thin plants to 8-12" depending on adequate irrigation. If drip irrigation is used, in-row spacing may be as close as 8". If water is scarce, the wider in-row spacing will be necessary. For pollination purposes, corn should be planted in a square plot with rows on 30-36" spacing. Planting a few long rows will result in poor germination and the absence of kernels on the cobs.
South American Popcorn Planting Information
Planting Method: direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1"
Seed Spacing: 8-12"
Row Spacing: 30-36"
Days to Maturity: 105
Disease Resistance: None
