Corn, Sweet, “Martian Jewels” Seeds

Zea mays (hybrid)

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Organic.

Though the striking color is other-worldly, the flavor of this one-of-a-kind jewel is more traditional—slightly less sweet than modern, very sweet hybrids. It was a labor of love to produce an open-pollinated corn that is loaded with beneficial anthocyanins (antioxidants), thanks to its Native American Hopi blue corn parents. Harvest fresh, or wait a bit longer and the sugar subsides, becoming perfect for breads or chowder, or wait even longer to harvest, and use the dried kernels for flour.

This 8 gram packet contains ~45 seeds

Days to Maturity: 80-90 days

Type: Sugary (su)

Plant Vitals

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When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F; ideally 65°–90°F.

When to Start Inside: Not recommended; roots sensitive to transplanting. Best results occur when seedlings are transplanted less than 2 weeks old.

Days to Emerge: 5–10 days

Seed Depth: 1"–1 ½"

Seed Spacing: A group of 2 seeds every 12"

Row Spacing: 24"–36"

Thinning: When 4" tall, thin to 1 every 12"

Harvesting: Corn is ready about 3 weeks after the silks appear. Harvest when the silks are brown, but not dried, and the husks are dark green; ears should be plump, and rounded rather than pointed at the tip. To test for ripeness, gently pull back the husk and pop a kernel; the liquid should be whitish; if it is still clear, ears are not quite ready.