Lemonade

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Sunlit kernels with a buttery, lemon-gold glow—Lemonade sweet corn brings a vivid sweetness that feels bright on the palate.

At maturity, the ears form a medium-to-large, gently tapered silhouette with plump rows of tender, juicy kernels and a fine, creamy bite. Grow Lemonade for fresh harvest enjoyment, and for golden summer sauces and quick pickling-style preserves where its sunny color and sweet corn flavor shine.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
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

Lemonade sweet corn is built for eating at peak tenderness—its creamy bite stays sweet even with fast heat, so you don’t need long cooking to get flavor. Char, butter, and a sharp acid (like lime) make the kernels taste like sunshine without turning them chewy or starchy.

Best Uses

quick char on a ripping-hot grill, then hit with salt and lime
shaved-kernel skillet sauté with butter and garlic for a glossy, spoonable finish
creamy summer chowder or corn soup where the kernels stay sweet, not starchy
quick pickling-style preserves for candy-sweet kernels and sunny color

Flavor Profile

bright honey-sweet flavor buttery, creamy kernel bite tender juiciness with a light corn-meadow aroma

Kitchen Pairings

butter lime smoked paprika chili-lime seasoning feta cilantro

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease in Zea mays var. saccharata (sweet corn) and how can I manage it?

Watch for corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), which feeds through the silks and damages kernels. Start by applying Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) when silks first appear and reapply as labeled; remove and discard heavily damaged ears and keep the garden free of weeds that harbor pests. If you also see fungal issues like grayish mold on ear tips, harvest promptly when ears mature and avoid overhead watering to reduce moisture on silks.

How often should I water sweet corn during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During the vegetative-to-tasseling period and especially once silks emerge, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) of water per week, split into 1–2 deep waterings. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the root zone to dry out because that can cause poor ear development and “missing” kernels.

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

Harvest when silks are browned and the kernels feel plump and release milky juice when pierced with a fingernail—this is the sweet-corn maturity sweet spot. Check an ear about 70 days after sowing (then adjust by silk color and kernel milk), and pick during the morning for the sweetest flavor.