Sweet Corn
Sugar Pearl Corn is a sweet corn cultivar that reaches harvest in just 70 days, making it one of the quickest routes from seed to table for corn lovers. Plant it in full sun with 12 inches between plants, and you'll be picking tender ears in mid-summer. The variety thrives when soil temps stay above 55°F and grows best in well-worked, fertile ground, perfect for gardeners who want reliable, fast-maturing sweetness without a long wait.
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This is a corn variety built for speed and reliability. At 70 days to maturity, Sugar Pearl delivers sweet ears faster than many standard varieties, yet it still demands the full-sun commitment and rich soil that quality corn deserves. Start seeds outdoors once nighttime temperatures have truly settled above 55°F, and you'll have a straightforward path to harvest. The key to success lies in planting densely enough to ensure good pollination while giving each plant its essential foot of space.
Sugar Pearl is grown for fresh eating, the primary use for sweet corn varieties. The ears are harvested at peak ripeness for boiling, grilling, or eating raw off the cob, when the kernels are at their sweetest.
In spring, once weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay securely above 55°F (13°C), plant seeds outdoors in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Poke seeds 1 inch deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Plant in a block of 4 side-by-side rows, with each row at least 1 foot apart, as this arrangement optimizes pollination and air flow.
Harvest ears when kernels are plump and tender, typically around 70 days after direct sowing. Pick by twisting and pulling the ear downward and away from the stalk. For peak sweetness, harvest in the early morning and use within a few hours if possible, as sugar content begins converting to starch immediately after picking.
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