10 corns to grow in the vegetable garden

Sweet corn 'Golden Bantam' with excellent taste quality

The sweet corn ‘Golden Bantam’ is an old and traditional variety, originating from North America, mid-early, known and recognised for the taste quality of its grains. It is a non-hybrid variety. Each plant produces between one to two spikes measuring 15 to 20 cm long, containing 8 ranks of well-yellow grains, very sweet and particularly plump.

The corn ‘Golden Bantam’

As the milky stage is quite short, the spikes are harvested quickly, as soon as they are ready. If you let this period pass, the grains lose their tenderness. Count on 75 days to obtain mature spikes.

As for the plants, they reach heights of 1.5 to 2 metres.

Sowing takes place from March to June, and harvesting from July to October.

The white sweet corn of Astarac, a traditional variety from the south-west.

The Astarac white corn is an ancient variety originating from the Astarac region, located between Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées. Traditionally, this variety was used for fattening geese and ducks, and it was also included in the composition of Gers soup.

This corn produces pearly white spikes of about 13 cm, with grains that are also white, shiny, and dented, slightly glassy. These spikes display a protein content of around 10%, making it the richest corn. Each spike contains between 11 and 12 ranks of an average of 24 grains. The plant exceeds 2 meters in height.

Astarac corn (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

It is a rather late variety, drought-resistant but sensitive to climatic fluctuations. It is sown from April to June and harvested in September.

This variety is primarily used for semolina and flour, but it can also be included in animal feed.

Sweet corn 'Miner', an early variety

The sweet corn ‘Miner’ is known for its hardiness, resilience, and drought resistance. It produces medium-sized spikes with light yellow to white grains that are particularly tender, soft, and milky. They boast a very appealing sweet flavour. The grains of Miner corn can be consumed raw or cooked in water or steamed. They can be enjoyed in salads with a dressing or can be included in a vegetable medley.

The corn ‘Miner’ (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

This is a rather early variety to sow from mid-May to mid-June for a harvest occurring from mid-August to mid-October.

'Tasty Sweet Trophy F1' sweet corn with very sweet kernels

The ‘Tasty Sweet Trophy F1’ maize is a hybrid corn obtained through cross-breeding, designed to be highly resistant to cold and drought, diseases, and lodging. It is an early variety that is sown from April to June, with a harvest starting in August and continuing until September. The sowings are relatively sensitive to cold, so there is no need to sow them too early.

The plants reach a height of 2 metres.

This variety of maize produces spikes of yellow-orange colour that reach 20 cm in length and weigh 250 g. The yellow grains have a high sugar content and an exceptional flavour. They can be consumed both raw and cooked. Very large, they are very juicy and have a thin shell.

Sweetcorn 'Snobaby', a mini sweetcorn

The Snobaby corn is a variety that truly lives up to its name. It produces very small spikes measuring only 5 to 10 cm, commonly used in Asian cuisine. They are harvested when the stalks are not quite mature.

The pale yellow grains contain a very sweet flavour. They can be consumed raw or cooked in a wok to accompany sliced pork, veal, or beef. They are also commonly found in vinegar.

Mini corn ‘Snobaby’ is sown from April to May for a harvest.

The yellow corn 'Amarillo', a variety from Central America

The yellow corn ‘Amarillo’ is an ancient variety, originating from Central America, primarily from the Chiapas region of Mexico. This variety stands out for both the flavour of its grains and its aesthetic appeal. It produces long spikes of a beautiful golden yellow.

The corn ‘Amarillo’ (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

The large grains are of the flint type and display a rich protein and starch content.

This corn is harvested at the milky stage or as sweet corn, which will be less sweet. It is an ideal variety for enjoying cooked corn grains.

Sowing takes place in May for a harvest from August to October.

The 'Fraise' corn, specially dedicated to popcorn.

The ‘Strawberry’ corn, a variety originating from the United States, is one of the most unusual varieties! Firstly, its plants do not exceed one metre in height, yet each produces between two and three spikes. Secondly, its spikes, small and round, resemble the shape of a strawberry. Even their size is similar, measuring between 5 and 6 cm.

‘Strawberry’ corn (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

The grains display a lovely dark red colour, which is very decorative in the vegetable garden. They are primarily consumed as sweet or savoury popcorn.

Due to its small size, this variety adapts very well to pot cultivation. Sowing takes place in May-June, with cultivation from August to mid-October.

Sweetcorn 'Tom Pouce', small but early!

The ‘Tom Thumb’ corn is, as its name suggests, a dwarf variety with plants that rarely exceed 50 to 70 cm in height. It is therefore an ideal variety for container or pot cultivation.

Each corn plant produces two light yellow spikes whose grains must be dried before being enjoyed, primarily as popcorn.

This variety is particularly interesting due to its great earliness. It is sown from April to June for a harvest in August-September.

'Mergoscia' corn, ideal for polenta

The ‘Mergoscia’ maize is a traditional variety that originates from the town of Mergoscia, located in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Each plant predominantly produces two spikes with compact, dense golden-yellow grains that are very tasty.

It is an easy-going variety that enjoys sunshine and warmth.

Due to their composition, the grains are perfect for making flour ideally suited for preparing polenta.

This variety is sown in April-May for a harvest between August and October.

Multicoloured corn, for decoration only

The multicoloured maize is sure to charm with its beautiful spikes made up of grains in stunning, warm, and varied colours. The spikes are about 15 to 20 cm long. They are dried to be used as decorative objects in the home.

The multicoloured maize (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

It is a vigorous variety with plants that can reach 2 metres in height. They will be magnificent in an ornamental garden to create colourful verticals or in the vegetable garden to provide shade for the vegetables.

It is sown from mid-May to mid-June for a harvest from mid-August to mid-October.