VegetableCorn
Hickory King Yellow Corn
Hickory King Yellow Corn is an Appalachian heirloom that arrived in seed catalogs around the late 1800s, bringing with it kernels so large they seem almost extinct in modern agriculture. This open-pollinated dent corn grows tall and vigorous, reaching 6 to 7 feet, and produces two substantial ears per stalk over 110 to 119 days. Hardy across zones 2 through 13 and thriving in full sun, it rewards patient growers with yields substantial enough to justify the space and time invested.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
10
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Those huge yellow kernels are the first thing you'll notice, a stark contrast to the smaller seeds of modern hybrids. Each plant reliably produces two full-sized ears, making this a genuinely productive choice for anyone serious about cornmeal, grits, or roasting. The sheer leafy green matter the plant generates also makes it excellent for livestock forage or garden biomass, so you're harvesting value beyond just the grain itself.
Common Uses
Hickory King shines as a processor's corn rather than a fresh sweet corn. The large kernels dry exceptionally well for grinding into cornmeal or polenta, deliver firm texture and earthy flavor in grits, and roast beautifully for cornuts or popcorn-like snacking. Farmers and gardeners also value the abundant leafy growth for livestock fodder and the cobs for mulch, making nearly every part of the plant useful.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F, spacing seeds 10 inches apart in rows 36 inches wide. Push seeds about 1.5 inches deep into moist soil.
Harvesting
Allow ears to mature fully on the stalk, waiting until the husks turn papery and the kernels have hardened into that characteristic dimpled dent shape typical of dent corn. The kernels should be so hard you cannot dent them with your fingernail when fully mature. Harvest by pulling ears downward and twisting to separate them from the stalk. For grinding or storage, allow ears to cure on the stalk if weather permits, or hang them in a dry place indoors for several weeks until the moisture content drops low enough for safe storage.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Zea mays
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zea
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Hickory King Yellow Corn carries the agricultural legacy of Appalachia, where it took root in the late 1800s and persisted as an open-pollinated staple through generations of mountain gardeners. Families saved seed from year to year, selecting for the largest, healthiest ears, which is why those kernels grew so impressively large compared to commercial corn bred for uniformity and mechanization. The variety survived by staying useful: it fed families as cornmeal and grits, sustained livestock, and earned the loyalty of gardeners who knew exactly what they were getting each season. Today, seed savers and heirloom enthusiasts preserve Hickory King precisely because it represents that older agricultural wisdom, a corn that performs without genetic modification or chemical dependency.”