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PollinationNotes:This variety is part of the Zea mays species, which includes Sweet Corn, Flour Corn, Pop Corn, and Dent Corn. These typesreadilycross-pollinate; therefore, grow only one to ensure you will have offspring that aren’t chewy or starchy. Due to the complexity of modern corn genetics, only allow cross pollination with other heirloom sweet corns (avoid modern hybrid varieties).
To ensure best pollination, plant them in a square or circle. If your corn block isn’t very big (for example less than 4 rows wide), shake your plants at the pollination stage to ensure pollen gets around. The main thing is, don’t plant them in a row!
IdealPlantingDate:April 15 - May 15. Corn is more tolerantof cool soil temperatures than squash, melons, runner beansand cucumbers.
Plantseeds directly into the garden when soil temperatures are consistently above 45°F, typically a couple of weeks after the last spring frost. Plant three inches apart so that you end up with plants that are at least 1-3 feet apart after culling the plants that do not thrive. Grow plants as normal, without using any kind of insecticides or fungicides.
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Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge. Once corn reaches 3-4 inches tall, it's time to thin!
For rows: Thin to one plant every 12 inches, with rows 30-36 inches apart.
For traditional mounds: Keep 3 strong plants per mound, with mounds spaced 3-4 feet apart.
When thinning, look for differences between plants - some may be taller, have thicker stems, or different colored leaves. This diversity is good! Keep a mix of healthy plants rather than just the tallest ones. Plants with reddish stems often produce more colorful and nutritious corn.
Cut unwanted seedlings at soil level rather than pulling them out to avoid disturbing roots. Save some of the thinned plants to fill any gaps.
Some plants will naturally resist pests, handle poor soil, or thrive in your local conditions better than others. By keeping a diverse mix when thinning, you're helping develop corn that's perfectly adapted to your garden.
Some plants will naturally resist pests, handle poor soil, or thrive in your local conditions better than others. By planting a diverse mix, you're helping develop corn that's perfectly adapted to your garden over time.
Someplantswillhavenaturalresistancetopests,poorsoilor otherchallenges. Remembertocelebratethoseplants!
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Your corn is ready to eat when the silks turn brown and brittle, and the ear feels plump with a blunt tip.
The best test? Peel back a bit of husk and pierce a kernel with your fingernail. You want the liquid to be milky butsee-through - like skim milk. If it's clear and watery, wait a few days. If it's thick and pastel or doughy, you've waited too long.
Move quickly once corn is ready - it can go from perfect to past-prime in just a few days. For the sweetest flavor, harvest in the morning and eat soon after picking.
Remember: Eatthesmallercobs,fromthesmallerplants,and
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Let the best ears mature fully on the plant until stalks and husks turn brown. Seeds keep developing nutrients from the plant, so wait as long as you can!
If your husks are dry and rain is in the forecast, harvest to avoid mold. If corn is getting eaten by pests, you can harvest it, as seed is mature enough after the edible stage.
Todry:Lay ears on screens or racks in a shady, dry spot or hang them in bunches to dry. Never dry in direct sun. Seeds are ready to remove and store when a kernel shatters (not squishes) when hit with a hammer. Select the best cobs that are fully pollinated, and colors that you enjoy.
Toshell: First remove the kernels from the tip and base of each ear– discard (or eat) these, they aren’t ideal for planting.
Remove and keep the remainder of the seeds from the middle of the cob. Twist kernels off with gloved hands into a bucket.
Remove chaff by pouring corn in front of a fan into a different container (seeds will fall), or on a windy day.
Store seeds in an airtight container kept cool and dark. Freeze for 48 hours first to prevent weevils, then let container warm to room temperature before opening to prevent condensation.
You can also add a tablespoon of sifted wood ash to keep out
Whendried,sweetcorn seedlooksshriveledwhen comparedtoflourcorn.
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When you return seeds, you're helping build a living library of locally-adapted varieties that get stronger with each passing season. After keeping enough for yourself, use the sticker provided to keep track of your seeds for planting next year, and the additional sticker to return seeds to your nearest seed library.
HowtoReturnSeeds:
● Remove as much chaff (stems, pods, leaves) as possible.
● Make sure seeds are completely dry. When hit with a hammers, beans and corn should shatter. Squash seeds should break instead of bend.
● Bring them to your local seed library in any clean container
● Fill out a quick check-in slip (found near the seed cabinet, or use the tear-off page or sticker found in this booklet.
● Drop off your seeds where indicated by the seed library.
About
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We are cultivating community resilience by spreading regionally adapted seeds and knowledge.
We envision Mendocino County as a hub for resilient seed diversity, where the seeds for the majority of plants grown are locally adapted and sourced
Come volunteer with us on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 2 pm to 4 pm, May to September at 14011 Pt Cabrillo Drive, and Xa Kako Dile: the rest of the year.
Email julia@goingtoseed.orgto confirm before coming the first time, for more information.
This sweet corn comes from a special coastal project in coastal Fort Bragg, where non-adapted commercial sweet corn would be crop failure. Over a few years, these seeds are learning to thrive in cool summers, sandy soil, and salty ocean winds.
Originally grown by Joseph Lofthouse in Utah (the variety known as Astronomy Domine), then by Julia Dakin in Caspar, the seeds were then adapted by Blair and Shea Burns at Nye Ranch Farm in Fort Bragg.
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YearbyYearGuide
Year1: Plant all the seeds in this packet. Some will do better than others, so you can celebrate those and don’t worry about stragglers (thin them if there are extra plants). The survivors form beneficial partnerships with the local soil microbes they need. Save seeds!
Year2: Your saved seeds are already adapting. If many thrive, save from the best—selecting for flavor, resilience, and productivity creates stronger plants with each generation.
Year3+: Save seeds from the plants with your favorite traits. (Natural selection is ongoing as long as you are saving seeds every year). Which ones are delicious, your favorite color, or size? To keep resilient, adaptive plants, don’tnarrow down the population too much – keep some diversity by saving seeds from various plants, shapes, colors and flavors.
Remember: letting plants adapt naturally reduces the need for purchased inputs over time. 11
Understanding pollination is key to small-space seedsaving. For instance, different squashspecies, e.g., C. moschata and C. maxima, won’t cross-pollinate, allowing them to grow side by side without affecting future generations. However, varieties of the same species, e.g., Hubbard and SweetMeat squash, can cross-pollinate, resulting in offspring with traits from both varieties.
Instead of fighting cross-pollination, consider embracing it to create robust, resilient plant populations that adapt more easily to your communities’ local challenges and preferences.
Choose projects deliberately, whether maintaining pure varieties or allowing beneficial crosses in pursuit of diverse, locally-adapted populations.
Communicate with fellow gardeners about yourseed-saving intentions—you may uncover opportunities for collaborative breeding projects or shared stewardship of cherished varieties.
Remember: small spaces can be ideal for seed saving when you work in harmony with your plants' natural tendencies.
Please fill out this sticker or form and return with your seeds
Plant/species name:__________________________________
Variety (or parent varieties) ____________________________
Garden Location:_____________________________________
Year: _______________________________________
Why did you choose to save seeds from this plant? (e.g. traits), or any other comments about it:
Grower name: ____________________________________
Email or phone: ___________________________________
Seed packet holder space
In this guide, you'll learn how to grow and save seeds that get stronger and more delicious with each generation. Along the way, you'll join an ancient tradition of seed stewards, helping to heal our food system from the ground up.
Localization - Over time, seeds learn your soil, local pests, climate, and your habits, and will thrive with less effort from you.
Strengththroughcommunity - Share seeds, stories and knowledge. Every gardener adds to our local food security.
Selectforwhatyoulove- Grow food that matches what matters to you—flavor, sustainability, resilience, or all three.
