Sweet Corn
Golden Bantam 12-row Corn is a 1922 improvement on the original Golden Bantam, released by the Clark Seed Company of Milford, Connecticut. This heirloom sweet corn matures in 85 days and produces larger ears than its predecessor, delivering significantly higher yields without sacrificing the tender, golden kernels home and market gardeners loved for over a century. Hardy in zones 3 through 6, it thrives in full sun and grows best when soil temperatures reach at least 60°F. Whether you're preserving the harvest or enjoying fresh ears, this variety excels at both.
12-18 inches apart in rows spaced 30-36 inches apart
Full Sun
Moderate
3-6
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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Golden Bantam 12-row delivers the sweet, buttery flavor that made its parent variety legendary, but with noticeably larger ears and better productivity. The golden yellow kernels stay tender far longer than the original strain, making this a genuine improvement on a classic. It was the standard variety for serious home and market gardeners for decades, and it earned that reputation through genuine performance, not nostalgia.
Golden Bantam 12-row is equally suited to fresh eating straight from the garden and to freezing for winter use. The extended tenderness of the kernels makes it particularly forgiving for harvest timing, allowing you flexibility when picking at peak ripeness without the kernels becoming tough if you wait a day or two.
Sow seeds directly into warm soil when the ground temperature reaches at least 60°F. Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches deep. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 10 days under ideal conditions.
Golden Bantam 12-row reaches maturity in 85 days from planting. Harvest ears when they feel full and firm to the touch, and the silks have turned dark brown. The kernels should be plump and milky when you pierce them with your fingernail. Pick ears by grasping near the base and twisting sharply downward.
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“Golden Bantam 12-row traces its lineage directly to the original Golden Bantam, one of America's most celebrated sweet corn varieties. In 1922, the Clark Seed Company of Milford, Connecticut, set out to enhance an already beloved cultivar. Rather than replace it, they developed this improved type, selecting specifically for larger ears and better kernel retention. The result was corn that maintained the tenderness and flavor that made Golden Bantam famous while yielding noticeably more per plant. For decades, this became the standard variety against which other sweet corns were measured, grown by both home gardeners and commercial farmers who recognized that bigger ears meant more food for their effort.”