Sweetness

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Silky, milk-sweet kernels burst with a honeyed tenderness that feels almost luminous against the tongue—an irresistible bicolor treat.

“Sweetness” produces well-filled ears with a crisp, juicy bite and a balanced sweetness that shines at peak harvest. Grow it for fresh enjoyment, and for spoonable, creamy-style corn dishes, where its naturally sweet character stays bright and fragrant.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 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 9th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Built for the window when the sugars are still sky-high—cook it fast or serve it hot off the grill so the kernels keep their crisp, milk-sweet burst. The bicolor balance makes it especially good for spoonable, creamy preparations where the sweetness stays bright instead of turning starchy.

Best Uses

shaved corn salads dressed with lime and salt
hot-and-buttered corn on the cob (serve immediately for peak snap)
creamy corn spoon dishes like corn pudding or chowder
quick char on a ripping-hot skillet/grill, then dressed with acid

Flavor Profile

milky-sweet kernels crisp, juicy bite honeyed tenderness with a clean, vegetal finish

Kitchen Pairings

lime chili butter cilantro smoked paprika cotija cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common sweet corn pest or disease problem, and how do I control it at home?

A frequent issue is corn earworm (Helicoverpa) that bores into developing ears and damages kernels. Start inspecting when silks first appear; if you see small caterpillars in the silk channel, remove heavily infested ears and use an appropriate labeled Bt insecticide targeted for corn earworm, following label rates. Also keep weeds down and avoid letting corn silks stay wet overnight to reduce moth activity and egg survival.

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

During tasseling and pollination through early ear fill, sweet corn needs consistently moist soil—about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week total, either from rainfall or irrigation. Water deeply 1–2 times per week so the root zone stays evenly moist (not soggy), and reduce stress because drought during pollination sharply reduces kernel sweetness and ear fullness.

How can I tell when sweet corn is ready to harvest (Ze a mays var. saccharata)?

Harvest when the ears have filled out and the silks have turned brown and dried, usually around 75 days from sowing for this variety type. Do a “milk test”: puncture a kernel and look for milky liquid—kernels should be tender and sweet, not doughy.