Painted Mountain

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Sweet, milky kernels burst with a painterly mix of warm gold and soft, painterly streaks—an heirloom-worthy spectacle that turns tender and creamy when harvested at peak freshness.

Painted Mountain flour corn forms plump, medium-length ears with a fine, velvety texture that’s prized for spoonable, hominy-style results and for thickening sauces with a gentle, corn-sweet depth. Grow it for a harvest that feels like edible art—showy in the garden and wonderfully versatile in the pot.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Painted Mountain

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 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
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

Harvested at peak, Painted Mountain’s milky kernels go creamy and spoonable—more like soft hominy than tight, starchy kernels. Use the flour or tender grains to thicken and round out soups and cream-style preparations where you want corn sweetness to read silky, not chewy.

Best Uses

fresh corn-to-grits style porridge (early harvest)
spoonable hominy-style kernels for bowls with broth or butter
fine corn flour porridge or slurry to thicken soups and sauces
cream-style corn with dairy to emphasize the milky sweetness

Flavor Profile

sweet, milky kernel flavor velvety, spoonable texture when fresh-ground or boiled gentle corn richness with a soft, starchy body tender, creamy mouthfeel rather than chewy

Kitchen Pairings

butter smoked paprika black pepper chile lime juice cream or buttermilk

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem commonly affects sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata), and what can I do about it?

A frequent issue is corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), which enters through the silk and damages kernels. Check ears every 2–3 days once silks are brown, then apply a Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product targeted for caterpillars and remove heavily damaged ears to reduce spread. If you see grayish mold growth on ears after wet weather, improve airflow by keeping plants spaced as recommended and avoid watering the ear zone; also remove infected ears promptly.

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

During pollination and ear fill (roughly weeks 7–10 in a 95-day crop), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week in total. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly so moisture reaches the roots, and don’t let the soil dry out completely; drought right when tassels shed pollen and silks are fresh can cause poor kernel set. Early morning is best to limit disease.

How can I tell when painted mountain sweet corn is ready to harvest?

Harvest when silks are mostly brown and the kernels release a milky fluid when pressed (the “milk stage”); this is usually about 18–22 days after full silking for sweet corn. Kernels should look plump and glossy with no denting when you puncture one with your thumbnail. For best sweetness, pick in the morning and avoid leaving ears in the field after the milk stage passes.