Bodacious Hybrid Yellow Sweet Corn
Bodacious is an awesome variety for home gardens or roadside markets that will keep you coming back for more! This corn type boasts impressively large ears filled with gorgeous sweet yellow kernels. The best part? Bodacious remains tender for a longer time than many other corn varieties, giving you a longer harvest window to enjoy it. Plus, it ripens in just 75 days and has solid rust tolerance.
While historical records vary, it appears that the first sweet corn was cultivated in the early 19th century; Native Americans shared this valuable crop with early settlers in the northeastern United States. In 1825, Thorburn's seed catalog featured the first cultivated sweet corn variety available for purchase.
Latin Name: Zea mays
Type: Hybrid, Warm Season
USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Seeds per Ounce: 150
Planting Method: Direct Sow
Sunlight: Full Sun
Height: 80 Inches
Color: Yellow
Sowing: Get the soil ready by mixing in some compost or other organic materials. Wait a week after the last frost or until the soil stays at 60 degrees F consistently, then plant the corn 1" deep and 8-12" apart. Planting in blocks of four short rows helps with pollination. You should see germination in about 5-6 days. For better companion planting, try putting Bodacious Hybrid yellow sweet corn seeds alongside cucumbers, peas, or pole beans; plants that enjoy shade also thrive with corn. Just steer clear of planting tomatoes near corn.
Growing: Once the corn starts to grow, keep the soil moist and be careful to pull out any weeds; corn struggles against weeds, so using mulch can help. Adding more organic matter or compost is great for growth since corn is a heavy feeder. Remember, corn has shallow roots that can easily get damaged if you hoe too much. Keep an eye out for pests, as corn tends to attract a lot of troublesome insects and animals.
Harvesting: About three weeks after the corn silk shows up, it will start to brown; this is a sign that the corn is almost ripe. When you pierce the kernels of sweet corn and a milky substance comes out, they’re ready to be picked. If the liquid is clear, they’re not ready yet; if nothing comes out, you’ve missed the best time to harvest. Sweet corn is usually at its sweetest when picked in the morning, as the sugar content is highest then; for the best flavor, use it the same day you harvest it.
Seed Saving: Since this corn variety is a hybrid, the seeds it produces will either be sterile or revert to traits of one of the parent seeds; trying to grow this type from its own seeds won’t work.
