VegetableCorn
Silver King Corn
Silver King is a hybrid sweet corn that grows 6 to 7 feet tall and matures in 80 to 89 days, producing large white ears up to 8 inches long with genuine sweetness. Bred for performance in challenging climates, it tolerates heat and drought conditions that would stress other varieties, making it reliable across hardiness zones 2 through 13. The ears develop on sturdy upright stalks spaced 10 inches apart, so you can grow a substantial harvest even in modest garden space. Whether you're in the cool North or warm South, Silver King's hybrid vigor and disease resistance to rust, Northern Corn Leaf Blight, and Stewart's Wilt mean fewer surprises during the season.
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
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Silver King delivers the reliable, sweet flavor gardeners crave without the fussiness of heirloom varieties. The 80 to 89 day timeline is refreshingly quick for a corn variety, and the tall 6 to 7 foot stalks produce substantial white ears that reach 8 inches. What sets it apart is its genuine heat and drought tolerance, allowing it to thrive in regions where summer stress typically reduces yields or quality. The hybrid genetics also confer meaningful disease resistance, particularly to rust and Northern Corn Leaf Blight, two problems that can devastate less protected plantings.
Common Uses
Silver King corn is grown and eaten as a fresh sweet corn variety, harvested when ears reach full maturity for boiling, grilling, or eating raw from the cob. The white kernels and substantial ear size make it suitable for home gardeners and small market growers looking to produce corn for direct consumption. The large ears and consistent quality also make it viable for processing or preservation through freezing or canning, though it's primarily grown for fresh eating.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Silver King seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally 65 to 70 degrees for faster germination. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to 10 inches apart once they reach 3 to 4 inches tall. In warmer regions (zones 9 to 13), you can succession plant every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvest through fall.
Harvesting
Pick Silver King ears when kernels are full and milky, typically 80 to 89 days after planting. The silk will have turned brown and dry, and the ear will feel full and plump when squeezed gently. Ears should reach approximately 8 inches in length at maturity. Harvest by holding the stalk firmly and twisting the ear downward sharply to snap it from the plant. Use fresh corn within a day or two of picking for peak sweetness, as sugars begin converting to starch immediately after harvest.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Zea mays
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zea
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (I)