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Types of Corn Plants

Gardening Guide: The Everything Corn Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating the All-American Crop

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Types of Corn Plants

By Norann Oleson

Corn comes in six types: dent, sweet, flint, pop, flour, and waxy. Then there’s heirloom corn, which isn’t technically a type, but is worthy of mention.

Dent Corn

Dent Corn

Dent corn is easy to spot: each kernel has a small dent in the top. Also known as field corn, this type of corn is high in starch and low in sugar and not meant for eating fresh. Instead, farmers let it mature and then process it for animal feed, corn chips, tortillas, and alcohol, such as moonshine and bourbon.

Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Sweet corn describes the juicy type we love to eat. It has high sugar content and is picked before it matures and turns to starch. Sweet corn comes in many varieties, such as yellow, white, and super sweet.

Flint corn

Flint corn

Flint corn—also known as calico corn—is often referred to as Indian corn.
The multicolored kernels, ranging from deep yellow to orange and burgundy, make it the perfect autumn decoration. Though the hard kernels aren’t suitable for eating fresh, when dried this nutrient-rich corn can be ground and used to make corn meal, corn flour, hominy, polenta, and grits.

Popcorn

Popcorn

Popcorn is one of the oldest types of domesticated corn. It’s very similar to flint corn with a hard, translucent outer shell. When popcorn is heated, the moisture inside the kernel turns to steam that builds up enough pressure for the kernel to explode—creating the white, starchy treat we all know and love.

Dried flour corn

Dried flour corn

Flour corn is grown primarily is South America to make corn flour.

Waxy Corn

Waxy Corn

Waxy corn, grown in China, has a texture like glutinous rice.

Drying pink heirloom corn

Drying pink heirloom corn

Heirloom corn is not so much a type of corn, but corn that is not mass-produced. Because corn producers want a standard crop, heirloom corn is relatively rare and most of the heirloom varieties have died out. But some farmers are working to save some of the varieties, such as Jimmy Red, which is prized by southern chefs for grits and by distillers for bourbon. So keep your eye on heirloom corn!

What types of corn do you grow? In what area do you live? Care to share your corn growing tips for your region? Please comment below!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Corn Plants
  • How to Pollinate—and Avoid Cross-Pollinating—Corn
  • Classification of Corn Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Corn from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Corn in Open Land, in Containers, or in Raised Beds
  • Ensuring the Right Sunlight, Soil, Fertilizer, and Water for Your Corn Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Corn Diseases Such as Corn Smut
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Corn Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Corn Garden
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Corn
  • When and How to Harvest Your Corn
  • Plant Profiles

  • Silver Queen Hybrid Corn
  • Ruby Queen Hybrid Corn
  • Picasso Hybrid Corn
  • Nirvana Hybrid Corn
  • Jubilee Hybrid Corn
  • Honey Select Hybrid Corn
  • Golden Bantam Heirloom Corn
  • Ambrosia Hybrid Corn
  • Recipes

  • Corny Cornbread
  • Tagliatelle with Corn and Tomatoes
  • Vegetarian Corn Chowder
  • Fresh Sautéed Corn
  • Zucchini Corn Fritters
  • Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad
  • Mexican Street Corn
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Corn
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Corn
  • Resources about Corn
  • Corn Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • The Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Pots
  • Easy Chicken and Corn Skillet Recipe
  • How to Hand-Pollinate Corn and Stop Growing Single-Kernel Cobs
  • The Everything Corn Guide—All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating the All-American Crop

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