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Showing dates for Honey Select in USDA Zone 7
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Honey Select · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Start by selecting a sunny location that receives 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Honey Select thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-6.8. Two weeks before your last frost date, work 2-3 inches of compost or aged manure into the planting area to a depth of 8-10 inches. Corn is a heavy feeder, so this organic matter foundation is crucial for the exceptional sweetness this variety is known for.
Direct sow seeds when soil temperature consistently reaches 60-65°F — typically 1-2 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 1.5 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 30-36 inches apart. For optimal pollination, plant in blocks of at least four rows rather than single long rows. This ensures proper wind pollination and prevents poorly filled ears.
Succession plant every 10-14 days through mid-summer to extend your harvest window. In zones 6-7, you can typically make plantings through early July. In zones 8-9, continue succession plantings through late July for fall harvest.
Fertilize with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer at planting, applying 2-3 pounds per 100 square feet. When plants reach knee-high (about 18 inches), side-dress with nitrogen-rich fertilizer like blood meal or apply a second round of balanced fertilizer. Water deeply 1-2 times per week, providing 1-1.5 inches total. Consistent moisture is critical during silk emergence and ear development.
Avoid the common mistake of planting too early in cold soil, which leads to poor germination and stunted growth. Never cultivate deeper than 2 inches near mature plants, as corn roots are shallow and easily damaged. Hill soil around the base of plants when they're 12 inches tall to provide additional support and prevent lodging in strong winds.
Harvesting
Harvest Honey Select corn 79-82 days after planting, typically in early to mid-morning when ears are cool and sugar content is highest. Look for brown, dried silks and plump kernels that reach the ear tips. The husks should be bright green and tightly wrapped around the ear. Perform the thumbnail test by pressing a kernel with your thumbnail — it should release milky juice, not clear liquid or be too firm to puncture.
Grasp the ear firmly and twist it downward while pulling away from the stalk. A mature ear will snap off easily. If you need to struggle or use tools, the ear likely isn't ready. Honey Select's extended harvest window gives you 4-7 days of peak sweetness once ears reach maturity, unlike traditional varieties that must be harvested immediately. This variety maintains its crisp texture and honey-like sweetness even when kernels appear slightly past their prime.
Storage & Preservation
Use Honey Select corn within 2-3 days of harvest for peak sweetness, though this variety retains sugar content better than most. Store unhusked ears in the refrigerator at 32-35°F with high humidity — wrap in damp paper towels and place in perforated plastic bags. Never store at room temperature, as corn converts sugar to starch rapidly.
For freezing, blanch whole kernels for 4 minutes or whole small ears for 7-8 minutes, then plunge in ice water. Package in freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Frozen corn maintains quality for 8-12 months. For canning, use a pressure canner only — corn is a low-acid food requiring 100 minutes at 11 PSI for pints. The honey-like sweetness of this variety makes it excellent for corn relish and pickled corn salad preparations.
History & Origin
Honey Select was developed by Syngenta Seeds (formerly Rogers Seeds) as part of their premium sweet corn breeding program focused on creating varieties with enhanced sugar retention and extended harvest windows. Released in the early 2000s, this synergistic hybrid represents years of selective breeding combining traditional sweet corn genetics with newer sugar-enhanced (se) traits.
The variety was specifically bred to address the common home gardener frustration of corn losing sweetness too quickly after harvest. By incorporating genes that slow the conversion of sugars to starches, breeders created a corn that maintains its honey-like sweetness for days rather than hours. The bicolor trait was intentionally selected not just for visual appeal, but because the combination of white and yellow kernels tends to produce more complex, richer flavor profiles. Honey Select has won multiple All-America Selections awards and remains a benchmark variety against which other sweet corns are measured in university trials across North America.
Advantages
- +Extended 4-7 day harvest window maintains peak sweetness longer than most varieties
- +Exceptional sugar retention — stays sweet for days after harvest without refrigeration
- +Superior Stewart's wilt and common rust resistance reduces crop loss in humid climates
- +Consistent ear fill from tip to base with minimal kernel gaps
- +Honey-like flavor intensity increases slightly 24-48 hours after harvest
- +Excellent performance in both northern short-season and southern heat-stress conditions
- +Sturdy stalks resist lodging in wind and storms better than many sweet corn varieties
Considerations
- -79-82 day maturity is slower than early season varieties for impatient gardeners
- -Requires consistent soil moisture — drought stress significantly reduces ear size and kernel development
- -Hybrid variety means seeds cannot be saved for next year's crop
- -More expensive seed cost compared to open-pollinated or standard hybrid varieties
- -Susceptible to corn earworm damage in areas with heavy pest pressure
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Bush Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn can utilize, while corn provides natural support structure
Summer Squash
Large leaves suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, completes the Three Sisters planting
Nasturtiums
Trap crop for cucumber beetles and aphids, repels corn earworm moths
Marigolds
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and nematodes with their strong scent
Sunflowers
Attract beneficial insects and birds that eat corn pests, similar growing requirements
Radishes
Break up compacted soil with taproots, mature quickly before corn needs full space
Sweet Alyssum
Ground cover that attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on corn borers and aphids
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that severely stunts corn growth and development
Tomatoes
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders creating competition, shared susceptibility to corn earworm
Brassicas
Cabbage family plants can stunt corn growth through root competition and allelopathic compounds
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to Stewart's wilt and common rust. Good tolerance to northern corn leaf blight.
Common Pests
Corn earworm, fall armyworm, European corn borer, cucumber beetles
Diseases
Gray leaf spot, common rust, northern corn leaf blight