Hybrid

Honey Select

Zea mays 'Honey Select'

This award-winning hybrid delivers the ultimate sweet corn experience with its incredible sugar content and extended harvest window. Honey Select produces beautiful bicolor ears that stay sweet and tender longer than most varieties, giving you more time to enjoy the perfect harvest. The combination of exceptional sweetness, crisp texture, and reliable performance makes this a top choice for serious corn lovers.

Harvest

79-82d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

5-8 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Honey Select in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 corn →

Zone Map

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Honey Select · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Spacing6-8 inches apart in rows 30-36 inches apart

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or aged manure

pH6.0-6.8

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonSummer

FlavorExceptionally sweet with honey-like flavor, crisp and juicy texture

ColorBicolor - yellow and white kernels

Size8-8.5 inch ears

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	June – July	September – October
Zone 4	—	—	June – July	September – October
Zone 5	—	—	May – June	September – October
Zone 6	—	—	May – June	August – October
Zone 7	—	—	April – June	August – September
Zone 8	—	—	April – May	July – September
Zone 9	—	—	March – April	June – August
Zone 10	—	—	February – April	June – July

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Color: Gold/Yellow. Type: Caryopsis. Length: > 3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Fall

Bloom time: Summer

Edibility: Edibile

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

Origin: Mexico

Advantages

+Disease resistance: Black Walnut
+Edible: Edibile
+Fast-growing

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

Nutrition Facts

Calories

86kcal(4%)

Protein

3.22g(6%)

Fiber

2.7g(10%)

Carbs

19g(7%)

Fat

1.18g(2%)

Vitamin C

6.8mg(8%)

Vitamin A

0mcg(0%)

Vitamin K

0.3mcg(0%)

Iron

0.52mg(3%)

Calcium

2mg(0%)

Potassium

270mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168538)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Honey Select corn take to grow?▼

Honey Select corn takes 79-82 days from planting to harvest. This puts it in the mid-to-late season category, making it perfect for main season harvest in most growing zones. The longer growing period contributes to its exceptional sweetness and larger ear size compared to early varieties.

Can you grow Honey Select corn in containers?▼

While possible, Honey Select isn't ideal for containers due to its height (6-7 feet) and wind pollination requirements. If you must use containers, choose pots at least 20 gallons in size and hand-pollinate by transferring pollen from tassels to silks with a soft brush. Plant multiple containers together to improve pollination success.

What does Honey Select corn taste like?▼

Honey Select offers an intensely sweet, honey-like flavor with crisp, juicy kernels that literally burst with sweetness when bitten. The bicolor ears provide textural variety, with white kernels being slightly more tender and yellow kernels contributing deeper corn flavor. The sugar content is notably higher than standard sweet corn varieties.

When should I plant Honey Select corn?▼

Plant Honey Select when soil temperature reaches 60-65°F consistently, typically 1-2 weeks after your last frost date. In most regions, this falls between late April and mid-May. For extended harvest, succession plant every 10-14 days through mid-summer, with final plantings 90 days before your first fall frost.

Is Honey Select good for beginners?▼

Yes, Honey Select is excellent for beginners due to its disease resistance, forgiving harvest window, and reliable performance. The extended sweetness period gives new gardeners more flexibility in harvest timing compared to traditional varieties that must be picked at exact peak ripeness.

How do I know when Honey Select corn is ready to harvest?▼

Look for brown, dried silks and bright green husks. Perform the thumbnail test — kernels should release milky (not clear) juice when punctured. Unlike other varieties, Honey Select maintains peak quality for 4-7 days once mature, so you don't need to harvest immediately when first ready.