Popcorn

Popcorn produces small hard kernels that pop when properly dried and conditioned. Grow in fertile, well-drained soil near pH 6.0–6.8 and choose a variety that can finish before frost.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Keep moist through establishment and grain filling; avoid waterlogging

Spacing

12 in

First harvest

100–120 days

Tips

• Sow 1–2 inches deep after soil warms to at least 60°F; thin to 8–12 inches with rows about 30–36 inches apart.
• Plant a block of at least four short rows for wind pollination; isolate from sweet corn and other maize types using local seed-saving guidance.
• Use a soil test and side-dress nitrogen as plants grow; water consistently during tasseling, silking and kernel fill.
• Leave ears until kernels are hard and husks dry, then finish drying with airflow and protect from rodents.
• For popcorn, condition mature kernels near 13–14% moisture and test a small batch; for milling/feed corn, meet crop-specific safe storage moisture.
• Discard or test moldy grain; aflatoxins and other mycotoxins are not reliably removed by cooking.