Dakota Black Popcorn is a striking heirloom variety that produces dark reddish-black ears as eye-catching as they are delicious. Ready to harvest in 85 days, this popcorn thrives in full sun and handles nearly every growing climate with ease, making it equally at home in a farmer's field or a child's first garden. The kernels pop into light, fluffy popcorn that rewards your patience with genuine flavor, while the dramatic ears themselves double as stunning fall decorations before you bring them inside to pop.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The most compelling quality of Dakota Black Popcorn lies in its visual drama paired with genuine practicality. Those deep reddish-black ears are handsome enough to leave standing in the garden as fall ornaments, yet they produce reliable popcorn when fully dried. It's a variety that succeeds across different climates without fussiness, sprouts reliably in 7 to 10 days, and reaches maturity quickly enough for gardeners in shorter seasons to actually finish their crop.
Dakota Black Popcorn is grown primarily for popping into snacking popcorn, though many gardeners also treasure the dried ears for their ornamental appeal during autumn display. The kernels pop into the traditional snack, and the variety's striking appearance makes it popular for fall decorations before the ears are harvested for eating.
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Sow seeds directly into the garden once soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches deep and space them 12 inches apart. Seeds will sprout in 7 to 10 days under ideal conditions.
Allow Dakota Black Popcorn to fully mature on the stalk, which takes 85 days from planting. Harvest ears when they have completely dried and the husks turn brown and papery. The kernels should be hard and difficult to dent with a fingernail. Leave ears on the stalk to dry as long as possible before frost arrives, then remove them and continue drying indoors in a warm, dry location before storing for popping.
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