Honey Pearl

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Honey Pearl to a garden.

Honey Pearl bursts with a sunlit sweetness—kernels that gleam warm butter-gold and snap with a tender, milky pop at peak harvest.

The bicolor ears are beautifully uniform, with a fine, juicy texture that stays crisp and flavorful from garden to table. Grow Honey Pearl for standout fresh-eating corn, and for roasting on the cob or turning into vibrant, golden sauces that showcase its bright, honeyed character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

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Honey Pearl 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Honey Pearl sweet corn is built for the fresh-kernel moment: it pops milky-tender and holds its crunch even as it warms. Use fast heat—roast or sauté—so the sugars caramelize at the edges without turning the centers starchy.

Best Uses

shuck-and-eat roasting on the cob (char the sugars, then serve with salted butter)
quick skillet sauté of kernels to keep them glossy and not starchy
creamy corn purée or soup that highlights the bicolor sweetness
roasted corn salsa where the kernels stay firm under lime and oil

Flavor Profile

sunlit sweetness tender, milky snap butter-gold corn flavor with a clean, grassy finish fine juicy texture that stays crisp

Kitchen Pairings

butter lime cilantro smoked paprika cotija cheese garlic

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) and what should I do?

Watch for corn earworm and cutworms—corn earworm can damage silks and tunnel into developing ears, while cutworms can sever seedlings near the soil line. Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) products targeted to caterpillars at the silk/whorl stage, hand-remove damaged silks when you see fresh feeding, and protect seedlings with collars (to prevent cutworms) until they outgrow the danger stage. If you notice tarry “smut” growth on ears or stalks, remove infected parts early to reduce spread.

How often should I water sweet corn during the main growth phase?

During active growth and tasseling/silking, keep the soil consistently moist so ears develop well—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot. Water deeply to wet the root zone and avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings, especially in the 2–3 weeks before and after silking.

How can I tell when Honey Pearl sweet corn is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the ears are fully filled to the tip and the silks are dark and dry; then check kernels: puncture a kernel—milk should be milky (not watery) and the kernel should be tender, not starchy. Sweet corn is best picked as soon as those milk-stage signs appear, typically around 70 days from sowing depending on temperature.