Trinity
Zea mays 'Trinity'
A premium tricolor sweet corn that creates stunning ears with white, yellow, and red kernels in beautiful random patterns, making each ear a unique work of art. Beyond its striking appearance, Trinity delivers exceptional sweetness and tender texture that rivals the best hybrid varieties. This newer variety combines the visual appeal of ornamental corn with the eating quality that sweet corn lovers demand, perfect for gardeners who want both beauty and flavor.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
5-8 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Trinity in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 corn →Zone Map
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Trinity · 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 Trinity corn maintains peak sweetness for only 24-48 hours after harvest when stored properly. Keep unhusked ears in the refrigerator at 32-35°F with high humidity—wrap in damp paper towels and place in perforated plastic bags. The natural husks help preserve moisture and sugar content better than pre-husked storage.
For freezing, blanch husked ears in boiling water for 4 minutes (small ears) to 6 minutes (large ears), then immediately plunge into ice water. Once cooled, cut kernels from cobs or freeze whole ears wrapped in freezer paper. Trinity's tender kernels freeze exceptionally well and maintain their sweet flavor for 10-12 months.
Dehydrating works beautifully for Trinity's colorful kernels—blanch briefly, cut from cobs, and dry at 125°F until brittle. The preserved tricolor kernels make stunning additions to soups, stews, and decorative corn bread. Avoid canning Trinity corn as the high sugar content can interfere with safe processing.
History & Origin
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut
- +Edible: Edibile
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil that corn needs, part of traditional Three Sisters planting
Squash
Large leaves shade soil and suppress weeds, completes Three Sisters guild
Marigolds
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and other harmful insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Sunflowers
Provide windbreak protection and attract beneficial insects
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects and provides ground cover
Lettuce
Grows well in corn's partial shade and maximizes space usage
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to corn and inhibits growth
Tomatoes
Both are heavy feeders competing for nutrients, corn attracts tomato fruitworm
Brassicas
Corn can stunt growth of cabbage family plants through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168538)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance, tolerant to common rust
Common Pests
Corn earworm, European corn borer, corn rootworm, raccoons
Diseases
Northern corn leaf blight, Stewart's wilt, common smut