VegetableCorn
Hickory King White Corn
Field Corn
Hickory King White Corn is a heirloom dent corn that thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 13, reaching 72 to 84 inches tall over 110 to 119 days. This open-pollinated variety stands out for its exceptional suitability for hominy production, where the kernel skin slips away with remarkable ease. Plant it in full sun with moderate water, spacing plants 10 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart, and you'll have a robust crop that handles both heat and drought with grace.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/hickory-king-white-corn-seeds)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-90°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeTall Stalk
Spacing
12-18 inches apart in rows 30-36 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The kernel skin on Hickory King White Corn separates so cleanly that it became legendary among hominy makers, a quality that sets it apart from other dent corn varieties. Its excellent root structure makes plants naturally self-supporting in high winds when spaced correctly, and it thrives in heat and drought conditions that would stress other corn. The whole plant reaches substantial height (six to seven feet tall) in a single growing season, rewarding patient gardeners with reliable harvests across nearly all North American hardiness zones.
Common Uses
Hickory King White Corn shines when processed into hominy, where its thin kernel skin separates cleanly from the endosperm after treatment with an alkaline solution. This makes it the natural choice for traditional hominy preparation, whether you're creating the tender kernels served as a side dish or grinding them further into hominy grits. The variety also works well for cornmeal and flour production, and can be eaten fresh if harvested at the milk stage, though its real purpose reveals itself in these processed preparations.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable
First Harvest
Late Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Hickory King White Corn seeds once soil temperatures reach 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds at the proper depth and space them 10 inches apart, with rows 36 inches apart. The variety tolerates heat and drought-prone regions well once established.
Harvesting
Hickory King White Corn reaches maturity in 110 to 119 days. Harvest ears when the husks have dried and turned tan or brown, and the kernels have hardened into the characteristic dent shape that defines this dent corn variety. The kernels are ready for hominy processing, meal grinding, or storage once they've reached full maturity and the cob has dried thoroughly.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Zea L.
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zea
History & Origin
“Hickory King White Corn carries the mark of an heirloom variety preserved and passed down through generations of American gardeners. This open-pollinated dent corn represents the kind of agricultural heritage that fed families through careful seed saving and regional adaptation. Its particular strength in hominy production speaks to deep roots in the foodways of the American South and Midwest, where grinding corn into meal and preparing hominy were essential skills passed from one generation to the next.”