VegetableCorn
Earth Tones Dent Corn
Dent Corn
Earth Tones Dent Corn is an open-pollinated heirloom that transforms a summer garden into a palette of warm autumn hues. Over 100 days of growth, this annual reaches 6 to 7 feet tall and produces cobs adorned in yellow, orange, red, brown, and mixed kernels that rival any fall decoration. Hardy across zones 2 through 13 and thriving in heat and drought conditions, it's as much a visual spectacle as it is a practical crop, earning its place in both ornamental displays and harvest traditions.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/corn-seeds-ornamental-earth-tones-dent)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeStalk
Spacing
12-18 inches apart in rows spaced 30-36 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The kernels arrive in a stunning range of earth-tone colors, yellow, orange, red, brown, and combinations of all four, making each ear a unique piece of natural art. Eight to ten inch cobs hold the grain firmly, and the plants tolerate heat and dry conditions remarkably well, making them reliable even in challenging growing seasons. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, this heirloom variety produces seed true to type, rewarding gardeners who save seeds year after year.
Common Uses
While beautiful enough for fall decorating, Earth Tones Dent Corn serves multiple purposes in the kitchen and beyond. The dried kernels work as cornmeal or flour for baking, polenta, and traditional corn-based dishes. The cobs themselves are sought after for fall decoration, craft projects, and even as mulch or animal bedding. Many gardeners grow this variety specifically to dry the ears for harvest arrangements, table centerpieces, and wreaths that celebrate the season.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-summer
First Harvest
Late Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into the garden after the last frost date, when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Push seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep into prepared soil, spacing them 10 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest Earth Tones Dent Corn when the kernels have fully dented (a characteristic shallow depression appears at the top of each kernel) and the plant has begun to dry down, typically 100 to 109 days after planting. The husks should be brown and papery, and the kernels will feel hard when you press them with your thumbnail. Pull ears directly from the stalk with a sharp twist, leaving the husks attached for storage and decoration. For eating fresh, harvest slightly earlier when kernels are still tender; for drying and storage, wait until the ears are fully mature and hard.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
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)
History & Origin
“Earth Tones Dent Corn carries the mark of heirloom corn breeding, developed to showcase the incredible color diversity within the Zea mays species. As an open-pollinated, non-GMO variety, it represents a commitment to preserving genetic diversity in corn and allowing gardeners to participate in seed saving, a practice that connects modern growers to centuries of agricultural tradition. The variety emerged from a long lineage of dent corn selection, where farmers chose for kernel color variation and cob structure suitable for fall decoration and storage.”