Robust 997 is a high-yielding yellow popcorn hybrid that matures in 112 days and thrives across hardiness zones 1, 10. This F1 hybrid grows in a compact habit, making it manageable in most garden spaces while delivering impressive kernel production. Plant it when soil temperatures reach at least 60°F, and you'll have fully mature ears ready for harvest in mid-autumn, perfect for popping fresh through the winter months.
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Moderate
1-10
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Moderate
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Yellow kernels that pop with genuine vigor once properly dried, Robust 997 rewards patience with a cure period that transforms hard, glossy kernels into a shelf-stable snack. Its compact growth habit and 112-day maturity make it genuinely accessible to gardeners in cold climates, and its high-yield genetics mean you're not sacrificing quantity for manageability.
Robust 997 is grown for popcorn production. Ears are harvested when fully mature, husked, dried, and cured indoors until kernels reach the ideal moisture content of 13, 14.5%, at which point they pop consistently and store well for months.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds into the garden when soil temperature reaches 60°F or warmer. Plant seeds at the appropriate spacing for corn in your region, spacing rows according to local growing practices. Germination occurs best between 60, 75°F.
Harvest Robust 997 popcorn when kernels are completely hard and glossy, and the husk has mostly dried down on the stalk. This typically occurs around 112 days after planting. Pick ears by hand, twisting them downward from the stalk. If weather remains damp or warm at maturity, bring husked ears indoors to complete drying before storage.
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