VegetableCorn
Neon Pink Corn
Neon Pink Corn is a striking open-pollinated popcorn variety that brings unexpected color to the garden and kitchen. Its kernels arrive in vibrant shades of bright and dark pink, clustered on compact ears about 3 to 4.5 inches long. This heirloom annual thrives in zones 2 through 13, reaching a mature height of 72 to 84 inches, and produces harvestable ears in 100 to 109 days. It handles heat and drought well, making it resilient in challenging growing seasons, and adapts equally to traditional garden plots or raised beds.
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
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Highlights
The electric pink kernels are what stop gardeners mid-stride. Neon Pink isn't just ornamental though; it's a genuine popcorn variety that combines eye-catching aesthetics with genuine kitchen utility. Non-GMO and open-pollinated, it bridges the world of heirloom preservation and practical food production, rewarding patient gardeners with an unusual crop that surprises and delights at harvest time.
Common Uses
Neon Pink Corn is grown exclusively for popcorn production. The kernels pop into fluffy white popcorn when heated, making this variety useful for snacking, entertaining, and anyone seeking a visually distinctive popcorn variety from their own garden. The novelty of growing pink-kerneled corn and harvesting homegrown popcorn appeals to gardeners who value the full seed-to-harvest-to-table experience.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Neon Pink Corn seeds into the garden after soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, ideally when it reaches 75°F for faster, more reliable germination. Sow seeds approximately 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to 10 inches apart once they emerge. Plant in rows spaced 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest Neon Pink Corn ears when the husks have turned brown and dried, typically 100 to 109 days after sowing. The kernels should be fully mature and hard; they will feel solid to the touch rather than doughy. Remove ears by twisting them sharply downward from the stalk. For popcorn, allow ears to cure further in a warm, dry location for several weeks before shelling kernels for storage or popping.
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
“Neon Pink Corn emerges from the heirloom popcorn tradition, preserved as an open-pollinated variety for home gardeners who value both novelty and seed-saving potential. Its lineage traces to Zea mays domestication and selective breeding for popping quality and distinctive kernel color, though specific development history is not documented in available sources. What matters is that it exists today as a non-GMO cultivar, available to gardeners through seed companies like True Leaf Market, representing the ongoing work of seed preservation networks that keep unusual and colorful varieties alive.”