List of sweetcorn varieties facts for kids
Sweet corn is a yummy vegetable that many people love to eat, especially in the summer! There are many different kinds, or varieties, of sweet corn. Each variety has its own special traits, like how sweet it is, how long it stays fresh, or how many days it takes to grow from a tiny seed to a ready-to-eat ear.
Most sweet corn varieties you find today are hybrids. This means they were created by carefully crossing two different parent corn plants to get the best qualities from both. Some older types are open pollinated, which means their seeds can be saved and planted year after year to grow the same kind of corn.
This article will tell you about some popular types of sweet corn and what makes them special!
Contents
Standard Sweet Corn (su)
This is the oldest type of sweet corn. It has a classic corn flavor and a good balance of sugar and starch. Think of it as the original sweet corn!
Standard sweet corn is usually quite strong and easy to grow. It's best to eat it right after you pick it. That's because its sugars start turning into starch pretty quickly after harvest. So, if you want the sweetest taste, cook it soon after it's picked!
Yellow Standard Corn
- Early Sunglow, 62 days
- Early Golden Bantam, 80 days (This is an heirloom variety, meaning it's an old, traditional type. It was one of the first popular yellow sweet corns!)
- Golden Cross Bantam, 85 days (This was the first widely grown hybrid sweet corn, popular since 1933.)
White Standard Corn
- Silver Queen, 92 days
- Stowell's Evergreen, 98 days (This old variety can be picked even when not fully ripe and stored for a while, like it's "evergreen"!)
Bicolor Standard Corn
Bicolor corn has kernels that are both yellow and white on the same ear.
- Butter & Sugar, 75 days
- Honey & Cream, 84 days
Multicolor Standard Corn
These varieties have kernels that change color as they ripen. They are often sweetest when their colors just start to show.
- Black Mexican/Aztec, 76 days (This heirloom corn starts white and turns blue-black when ready.)
Sugary Enhanced Sweet Corn (se)
Sugary Enhanced, or se, corn is even sweeter than the standard su types. It has more sugar and can stay sweet for a few days if you keep it in the fridge.
This type of corn has softer kernels than standard corn. It's also a bit more delicate to grow. You don't usually need to plant it far away from other corn types, but it's still a good idea for the best results.
Yellow Sugary Enhanced Corn
- Sugar Buns, 72 days
- Incredible, 83 days
White Sugary Enhanced Corn
- Sugar Pearl, 73 days
- Silver King, 82 days (This is like a sweeter version of the 'Silver Queen' standard corn.)
Bicolor Sugary Enhanced Corn
- Silver N Gold, 65 days
- Ambrosia, 75 days
- Peaches and Cream Mid EH, 83 days
Supersweet Sweet Corn (sh2)
Supersweet, or sh2, corn is super sweet! It has much more sugar than the standard types, sometimes up to ten times more. It can stay sweet for up to 10 days if stored correctly.
This corn is the most delicate to grow. It needs warmer soil to sprout and careful planting. It's also very important to plant supersweet corn far away from other types of corn (like standard or sugary enhanced corn). If other corn pollen gets on it, the kernels might not be as sweet and could become starchy. The name shrunken-2 comes from how small and shriveled the dried kernels look because they have so little starch.
Yellow Supersweet Corn
- Early Xtra Sweet, 70 days
- Jubilee SuperSweet, 83 days
White Supersweet Corn
- How Sweet It Is, 85 days
Bicolor Supersweet Corn
- Honey ‘N Pearl, 78 days
Synergistic Sweet Corn (sy)
Synergistic, or sy, corn is a special mix! On one ear, you'll find kernels that have different genetic traits. For example, some might be supersweet, some sugary enhanced, and some standard. This mix gives them a great flavor.
A cool thing about synergistic corn is that you usually don't need to plant it far away from other types of corn. This makes it easier for home gardeners.
Yellow Synergistic Corn
- Honey Select, 79 days
White Synergistic Corn
- Avalon, 82 days
Bicolor Synergistic Corn
- Sweetness, 68 days
- Serendipity/Providence, 82 days
Augmented Supersweet Corn
Augmented Supersweet varieties are a newer type that combine the super sweetness of sh2 corn with other genes. This means all the kernels are supersweet, but they also have a more tender texture, similar to the se types.
Just like other supersweet corn, these varieties need to be planted away from other types of corn. This helps make sure the kernels stay sweet and don't become starchy.
Yellow Augmented Supersweet Corn
- Vision, 75 days
White Augmented Supersweet Corn
- Devotion, 82 days
Bicolor Augmented Supersweet Corn
- American Dream, 77 days
- Obsession, 79 days
Multicolor Augmented Supersweet Corn
- Wild Violet, 75 days (This corn has both purple and white kernels.)
See also
- International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
