Kettle Corn

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Kettle Corn to a garden.

Sweet, nutty fragrance rises from the kernels as they heat—Kettle Corn is bred for that classic “just-popped” aroma with a balanced, lightly caramel-leaning sweetness.

Expect tender, crisp bites with a delicate, airy crunch and a satisfyingly open hull that pops cleanly. Grow Kettle Corn for backyard popcorn nights, from fresh garden harvest to stovetop-style popping and festive snack bowls.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Kettle Corn is engineered for that “just-popped” perfume—sweet on the nose, nutty on the finish—with a crackly, open crunch that stays snappy a little longer than generic popcorn. Go for salty-sweet balance: hit it hot with fine salt and a fat (butter or oil) so the sugar clings instead of turning tacky.

Best Uses

stovetop kettle corn for snack bowls and movie-night crunch
salted-and-sweet coating for party mix (mix with nuts and dried fruit)
freshly popped topping for hot buttered snacks (chili-lime or garlic-butter style)
crunchy garnish for salads and slaws—use within minutes of popping

Flavor Profile

sweet, lightly caramel-leaning aroma toasty, nutty popcorn character tender-crisp kernel with an airy crunch clean, popping hull bite

Kitchen Pairings

sea salt butter lime chili powder honey toasted nuts

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest is most likely to damage Zea mays var. saccharata (sweet corn), and how can I control it?

Earworms (corn earworm/bollworm) commonly bore into sweet corn ears, leaving frass and ragged silks. Check daily once silks emerge, remove and discard damaged ears, and apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) targeted to corn earworm when silks are fresh (repeat as directed on the label). Keep the area weeded and avoid letting late ears sit longer than necessary, since damaged ears attract more moths.

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

During tassel and ear development, keep the soil consistently moist with about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, adjusted for rainfall. Water deeply 2–3 times per week rather than frequent light sprinkling, so moisture reaches the deeper root zone. If the soil dries and ears begin to form, pollination suffers—aim for even moisture from silking through early kernel fill.

How do I tell when sweet corn is ready to harvest (Zeа mays var. saccharata)?

Harvest when silks turn brown and dry but are still on the ear, and the kernels look plump and glossy at the tip to the base. Do a “milk test”: press a kernel—if a milky fluid squirts out, it’s harvest-ready; if only a clear watery juice appears, wait about 1 day. For peak sweetness, pick in the morning and use promptly, since sugar in sweet corn declines quickly after harvest.