Kandy Korn
Zea mays 'Kandy Korn'
An exceptionally sweet yellow corn that lives up to its candy-like name with superb sugar content and tender kernels. This early-maturing variety produces beautiful golden ears with excellent kernel fill and remarkable sweetness that holds well after harvest. Perfect for gardeners who want reliable, kid-friendly sweet corn that performs well in shorter growing seasons.
Harvest
84-89d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
5-8 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Kandy Korn in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 corn →Zone Map
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Kandy Korn · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
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
Fresh Kandy Korn maintains peak sweetness for 3-5 days when stored unhusked in the refrigerator at 32-35°F with high humidity. Keep ears in perforated plastic bags to maintain moisture while allowing air circulation. For immediate use within 24 hours, store at room temperature with husks on.
For long-term preservation, blanch whole ears in boiling water for 4-6 minutes, cool in ice water, then cut kernels from cob before freezing in airtight containers for up to 12 months. Kandy Korn also pressure cans beautifully—process pints for 55 minutes at 11 pounds pressure. The high sugar content makes this variety excellent for dehydrating into sweet corn kernels that rehydrate well for soups and stews.
History & Origin
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut
- +Edible: Edibile
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn can utilize, classic Three Sisters combination
Squash
Spreads as ground cover to retain moisture and suppress weeds, completes Three Sisters guild
Marigolds
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and other harmful insects with strong scent
Nasturtiums
Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts beneficial predatory insects
Sunflowers
Provide windbreak protection and attract pollinators and beneficial insects
Dill
Attracts beneficial wasps that prey on corn borers and other corn pests
Lettuce
Grows well in partial shade of corn stalks, efficient use of garden space
Radishes
Break up compacted soil with taproots, mature quickly before corn needs full space
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that severely stunts corn growth and development
Fennel
Allelopathic compounds inhibit corn germination and root development
Tomatoes
Both are heavy feeders competing for same nutrients, attract similar pest insects
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168538)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good field tolerance to common corn diseases and environmental stress
Common Pests
Corn earworm, fall armyworm, European corn borer, Japanese beetles
Diseases
Northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot, common rust, Stewart's wilt