VegetableCorn
Sugar Buns Corn
Sweet Corn
Sugar Buns stands out as a truly gourmet early hybrid corn that delivers the longest harvest window of all early varieties. This sugary enhanced beauty reaches 72-84 inches tall and produces stunning 7-8 inch ears packed with 14 rows of sweet yellow kernels in just 70 days. Developed specifically for home gardeners and fresh market growers, it thrives in zones 2-13 and combines remarkable earliness with excellent sweet flavor and superior keeping qualities.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/corn-se-sugar-buns-hybrid-treated)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeUpright
Spacing
8-12 inches apart in rows spaced 30 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What makes Sugar Buns exceptional is its sugary enhanced genetics that extend the harvest window far beyond typical early corn varieties. The stalks reach just over 5 feet tall, making them manageable for home gardens while still producing substantial 7-8 inch ears. Its resistance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Stewart's Wilt gives gardeners confidence in challenging growing conditions. The variety tolerates both heat and drought while maintaining its signature sweet flavor and good keeping qualities.
Common Uses
Sugar Buns excels as fresh eating corn, perfect for boiling, grilling, or roasting when kernels are at their peak sweetness. The ears maintain their quality well after harvest, making them ideal for roadside stands and fresh market sales. The sweet yellow kernels work beautifully in summer salads, salsas, and as a side dish where the natural sugary enhanced flavor can shine.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start indoors 2-3 weeks before desired transplant date, being careful not to let starts become root bound and avoiding root damage when planting.
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly outdoors 1.5 inches deep when soil temperature reaches at least 65°F for untreated seeds or 60°F for treated varieties. Space seeds 10 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest when kernels are full and milky and ears feel firm, typically 18-24 days after silks first appear. Look for drying and browning of ear silks as your key indicator of maturity. Remove ears by pulling downward while twisting. Check corn daily during harvest season, especially when temperatures exceed 85°F, as ears lose flavor quickly if left too long on the stalk.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Zea mays L. ssp. parviglumis Iltis & Doebley
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zea
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Graminoid
Native Status
L48 (I)