Hickory King

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly aromatic at harvest, Hickory King corn brings a rich, warm golden depth with a tender, floury bite that’s prized for meal-making.

The kernels develop in tight, well-filled rows on sturdy ears, offering a fine, creamy texture that grinds beautifully into flour. Grow it for a dependable 75-day rhythm and a harvest that feels like sunshine in the garden—ideal for turning into hearty, homemade staples and comforting blends.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

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Hickory King Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Hickory King leans into that tender, floury kernel stage—when you cook it just enough, it goes creamy instead of chewy. It’s built for turning fresh sweetness into thicker purées and grinds, where its warm golden aroma stays front-of-house.

Best Uses

fresh-kernel sauté with a knob of butter and salt (minimal cooking to keep the floury tenderness)
grinding into sweet corn flour for spoonbread, pancakes, or porridge
creamy corn purée/soup that thickens naturally without heavy roux
charred-then-creamed corn for tacos or spooning over roasted chicken

Flavor Profile

sweet, warm corn aroma tender floury kernels creamy bite with a soft starchy snap golden, lightly buttery finish

Kitchen Pairings

butter smoked paprika lime black pepper chicken cotija cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is common on sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata), and how can I fix it?

Watch for corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), which feeds in the silk and damages kernels as they form. Apply an appropriate Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product when silks first appear and reapply per label timing so it matches egg-hatch, and remove heavily infested ears early. Also keep an eye out for common rust—orange pustules on leaves—by watering at the base and spacing plants for airflow; remove badly infected leaves to slow spread.

How often should I water sweet corn during its main growing phase (tasseling to grain fill)?

During tasseling through grain fill, keep soil evenly moist—typically about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, split into 1–2 deep waterings. Check by pushing a finger 2–3 inches into the soil; it should feel consistently moist, not drying out or staying waterlogged. Avoid frequent light sprinkles that keep the surface wet while roots dry out.

How do I know when Hickory King sweet corn is ready to harvest?

Start checking when plants are near the listed maturity (about 75 days) and when silks have turned dark and dry. Harvest when kernels are plump and release a milky liquid when pressed with a fingernail; this usually corresponds to about 18–24 days after first silks emerge. If the kernels look thin or the liquid is watery-clear, wait a bit longer—sweetness peaks right at harvest for Zea mays var. saccharata.