Bolt XR is a first-early hybrid corn that delivers sweet kernels in just 67 days, making it one of the fastest routes to fresh corn on the cob. This F1 hybrid brings improved vigor to the super-sweet corn family, growing in a compact form that suits smaller gardens and containers. Hardy from zones 2 to 10, it handles cool soil (germinating at 60-75°F) without the sulking that delays many corn varieties, and its frost-tender nature means you can direct sow once soil temps are stable. The real appeal lies in speed: plant it early and enjoy milky-sweet ears while other corn varieties are still growing tall.
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Moderate
2-10
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High
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Bolt XR combines the racing speed of a first-early super-sweet corn with the vigor and reliability of a thoughtfully bred F1 hybrid. At 67 days to harvest, it's one of the quickest routes to ripe ears in the garden. The compact growth habit means you're not staking or supporting towering stalks, and this efficiency extends to disease resistance: it shrugs off Northern corn leaf blight and rust, two common corn headaches. Early-season gardeners and those with tight spaces will find this variety does exactly what its name suggests.
Fresh corn on the cob, eaten raw or cooked. The super-sweet kernel type (sh2) means high sugar content and tender texture straight off the stalk, perfect for steaming, grilling, or boiling. Many gardeners grow it specifically for the brief window when corn tastes best: freshly picked and cooked within hours.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow once soil temperature reaches 60°F or higher. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in rows spaced according to final plant spacing. Corn prefers direct sowing to transplanting since the roots are sensitive to disturbance.
Bolt XR is ready to harvest 18-24 days after the ear silks first appear and begin drying and browning, though warmer weather shortens this window. Pick ears when kernels are full and 'milky' in appearance, not yet starchy or doughy. Test by pressing a thumbnail into a kernel; it should release a milky juice. Twist and pull the ear downward sharply to detach it from the stalk. Harvest in the early morning for peak sweetness.
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