Organic Festivity Sweet Corn Seeds

Festivity Sweet Corn seed produces yellow cobs with specks of colors and fantastic flavor. The 5-6′ (1.5-1.8m) stalks on the Festivity Sweet Corn plant are multi-stalked and produce 2-3 ears of corn per stalk. Bred by the late Jonathan Spero, this corn does well in low fertility gardens and has a wonderful flavor.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Corn is a warm season crop that should be grown when soils have reached a minimum temperature of 65°F (18°C).  This occurs in mid-May in Zones 9 and 10. It will not germinate well in cold soils.

Planting Corn Seeds

• Corn seed is very easy to direct sow. For Zones 9 and 10, sow seeds in deeply irrigated soils to guarantee even and quick germination. Plant seeds every 3″ (7.6cm), thinning later to 6″ (15.2cm) apart.
• Fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer once the seedlings have germinated and are about 4″ (10.1cm) tall.
• If transplanting out, plant in the garden when it is 6-7″ (15.2-17.8cm) tall. Space at least 6″ (15.2cm) apart. Plant in full sun.

Growing Corn

• For healthy kernel development, you must ensure good pollination. Pollination happens when pollen from the tassels falls onto the silks. To ensure this, corn must be planted in blocks, and you must plant at least 10 plants to get a good yield. Plants can be grown very close together if you are planting in a small space.
• Corn requires adequate moisture and moderately fertile soil to produce a healthy crop. Side dress with a granular organic fertilizer if you believe your soil has low fertility.
• More information about growing corn can be found on our blog!

Succession Planting Corn

• Plant every 10-days for a continuous crop to harvest.

Growing Corn in Containers

• Do not grow in a container unless you can fit a minimum of ten plants in the size of the container being used.

Harvesting Corn

• Corn is harvested differently depending on the type you grow.
• Sweet Corn is harvested when the peak sugar has condensed in each kernel—ears will feel firm and full. Other signs of maturity are dry silks and ears that are tilted from the stem. You can peel back the silk and squeeze a kernel. If the liquid that comes out is milky, it’s ready! Keep in mind the quality of sweet corn declines if you let it stay on the stalk too long. Sugar contents turn to starch, making the corn less appealing to eat fresh. If this happens to you, simply use the corn in cooking applications like corn chowder, corn cakes, or other recipes.
• Popcorn/Mill Corn and Dent Corn are left to mature on the cob. As they mature, the silks will dry out. These types can be stored dry until needed. Popcorn can be popped by placing the whole cob (husked) in the microwave in a brown paper bag.
• For additional information, check out our guide on when to harvest corn!

Southern California Pro Tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, corn can be succession planted several times for a harvest that can be enjoyed all year long!
• Aphids and ants are the most common corn issues in Southern California.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Corn is a tall plant that is planted in blocks. For this reason, smaller bushy plants planted on the perimeter of your corn patch will bring beneficial insects and make your corn patch even more beautiful. Plant zinnias, sunflowers, and amaranth around your corn.
• Try growing more than one succession planting of corn in a year! Here in Zone 10, you can get in 3 or 4 succession plantings of corn in a season!

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please read our article, Starting Seeds Indoors, to learn the basics!
• Corn smut is a fungal disease that impacts corn, but the fungus itself is edible. We explain more in this article.
• Corn can be grown as corn microgreens, too!
• Curious about the difference between sweet corn and other types of corn? We provide our insight.