Hopi Turquoise Corn is a breathtaking blue heirloom flour/dent corn said to originate from the Hopi people of the Southwest, producing ears that range from slate blue to brilliant turquoise with surprising purple highlights. These 6- to 12-inch ears typically yield one per stalk and mature in 90 days, thriving in hardiness zones 3-10 with full sun and moderate water. The kernels are dual-purpose, functioning as both flour and dent types, often appearing on the same ear, making this variety uniquely versatile for traditional and modern cooking alike.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
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Moderate
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The kernels of Hopi Turquoise Corn shift between flour and dent types, sometimes both on a single ear, creating a rare dual-purpose grain that opens up multiple culinary possibilities. Its striking color palette of slate blue to turquoise with purple surprises makes it as striking in the garden as it is on the plate. Even at high elevations around 8,000 feet, this corn performs reliably, adapting to challenging growing conditions that would stress other varieties.
Hopi Turquoise Corn shines when ground into cornmeal for traditional southwestern dishes like atole, polenta, and cornbread. The flour-dent kernel combination allows it to be used fresh off the cob as well as dried and milled, giving home gardeners flexibility in how they prepare and preserve their harvest. Its striking color makes it a showstopper in decorative corn arrangements and dried corn displays.
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Direct sow Hopi Turquoise Corn seeds after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches 60°F or warmer. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep, spacing them 30 inches apart in rows. Thin seedlings as they emerge if planted densely, allowing each plant room to develop strong stalks.
Harvest Hopi Turquoise Corn at approximately 90 days from planting when the kernels have hardened into their characteristic flour-dent form. The ears are ready when the husks have dried and pulled back slightly from the cob, and kernels show little milk when pierced. Each stalk typically produces one ear; strip the ear from the stalk and allow it to cure in a cool, dry place for several weeks before shelling or grinding.
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“Hopi Turquoise Corn carries the agricultural heritage of the Hopi people of the American Southwest, where it has been grown and refined over generations. The variety embodies centuries of careful selection for color, kernel type, and adaptation to the arid southwestern climate. Its journey to modern seed catalogs represents the preservation of indigenous crop diversity and the recognition of traditional farming knowledge by contemporary heirloom seed movements.”