Teawi Corn is a distinctive corn variety originating from the high desert highlands of the Rarámuri people, producing small, cone-shaped ears with striking bicolor kernels. Most ears display creamy white kernels, while others feature warm orange sides crowned with white caps, creating a visually stunning crop. This moderately thirsty plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, spacing 12 inches apart in rows set 30 inches apart. Germination occurs reliably between 60 and 75°F, making it suitable for warm-season growing in frost-free regions.
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Moderate
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High
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The kernel patterns of Teawi Corn are utterly captivating: predominantly white ears punctuated by some with rich orange sides and distinctive white caps. This heirloom comes directly from the Seed Bank Collection at Native Seeds/SEARCH, carrying the legacy of Rarámuri agricultural knowledge from high-altitude desert terrain. The compact cone-shaped ears set it apart from larger modern corn types, offering something genuinely different for gardeners seeking heritage varieties with strong visual character.
As a traditional corn variety, Teawi can be used for dried corn applications including grinding into cornmeal and flour, as well as for popping and ceremonial uses common to corn varieties grown by Rarámuri communities. The small ears lend themselves well to whole-ear roasting or boiling when harvested at the fresh corn stage.
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Direct sow Teawi Corn seeds into the garden once soil temperature reaches 60°F and all frost danger has passed. Plant seeds and thin seedlings to 12 inches apart with rows 30 inches apart.
For fresh corn, harvest when the kernels are fully developed but still tender, typically when silks have browned and ears feel full when gently squeezed. For dried corn suitable for grinding or storage, allow ears to remain on the stalk until the husks are completely dry and brown, then harvest and cure further in a dry location before shelling and storage.
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“Teawi Corn belongs to the Rarámuri Serrano group, a collection of small-eared corn varieties developed and refined over generations by the Rarámuri people of the high desert highlands. The Rarámuri have cultivated these distinctive corns in challenging, high-altitude environments, selecting for adaptation to intense sun, temperature swings, and limited water. Native Seeds/SEARCH, an organization dedicated to preserving crop diversity of the American Southwest and Mexico, maintains this variety through their Seed Bank Collection, ensuring that both the seeds and the cultural knowledge behind them survive for future gardeners and growers.”