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How to Grow Bi-color Corn

Wikimedia Commons

Bi-color Corn

Zea mays

vegetable

Bi-color corn is a sweet corn variety featuring kernels of two contrasting colors, typically white and yellow, on the same cob. These varieties offer excellent sweetness and tender texture when harvested at peak ripeness. Bi-color corn is a popular home garden and farmers market favorite due to its attractive appearance and superior flavor.

Looking for a specific variety?

Peaches and Cream Honey & Cream Delectable Silver Queen Bodacious Bi-Color Jubilee

When should you plant Bi-color Corn in your zone?

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Example Bi-color Corn timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Bi-color Corn

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Bi-color Corn

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Bi-color Corn dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours minimum daily (8+ hours preferred)
💧
Water: Consistent moisture; 1-1.5 inches per week, increasing to 2 inches during silking and ear development. Water deeply and regularly, especially during hot weather. Avoid overhead watering to reduce disease.
📏
Spacing: 8 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-90 days
🌱
Planting depth: 1-1.5 inches

Soil

Type: Rich, well-draining loamy soil with good organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost well-rotted manure nitrogen-rich fertilizer or fish emulsion balanced NPK fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-9; can grow in zones 2-10 with appropriate timing

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Germination & Seedling

2-3 weeks

Seeds sprout within 7-10 days. Seedlings emerge with grass-like leaves and rapid vertical growth.

Ensure soil temperature is 60°F minimum (ideal 70-85°F). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once 4-6 inches tall.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops 8-10 leaves with strong stem formation. Roots deepen and spread. Plant reaches 2-4 feet tall.

Provide adequate nitrogen fertilizer. Side-dress with compost or fertilizer at 6-8 inches tall. Keep weeds controlled. Watch for pest damage.

3

Pre-Flowering & Tassel

2-3 weeks

Male flower (tassel) emerges from top of plant. Plant reaches 4-8 feet depending on variety. Ear shoots begin to develop at leaf axils.

Maintain consistent watering. Continue fertilizing if soil is poor. Remove any diseased or damaged leaves. Ensure adequate spacing for air circulation.

4

Silking & Pollination

1-2 weeks

Silks (female flower stigmas) emerge from ear husks. Pollen from tassels must contact silks for kernel development. This is critical for full ear development.

Increase watering to 2+ inches weekly. Do not disturb plants during pollination. Maintain consistent soil moisture for optimal kernel set. Avoid nitrogen overdose.

5

Ear Development & Maturity

2-3 weeks

Kernels develop and fill out. Silks dry and brown. Ear reaches full size. Kernels progress from milk stage to full maturity.

Maintain steady moisture. Kernels are ready when milky juice exudes when pierced (milk stage for bi-color is ideal). Do not overmature or kernels become starchy.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Beans Peas Squash Pumpkins Cucumbers Melons Lettuce Spinach Radishes Carrots Marigolds Nasturtiums

Avoid planting near:

Tomatoes Peppers Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Celery

Common Pests

  • Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) at silking stage; use mineral oil drops in ear tips; remove and destroy infested ears; plant resistant varieties; encourage beneficial parasitic wasps.

  • Plant resistant varieties; remove plant debris in fall; use pheromone traps for monitoring; apply Bt spray in early season; encourage beneficial insects.

  • Remove and destroy galls before they rupture; avoid excessive nitrogen; improve air circulation; plant resistant varieties; do not compost infected plant material.

  • Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings; use reflective mulches; remove heavily infested plants.

  • Hand-pick and destroy; use pheromone traps away from plants; apply kaolin clay spray; encourage beneficial nematodes in soil.

  • Increase humidity; spray with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage predatory mites; avoid excessive heat stress.

Uses

🍳

Fresh corn on the cob

Culinary

Bi-color corn is prized for eating fresh off the cob, boiled, grilled, or roasted. The combination of sweet yellow and creamy white kernels offers superior flavor and tender texture when harvested at peak ripeness. [source]

🍳

Corn salads and sides

Culinary

Cut kernels work beautifully in salads, salsas, succotash, and side dishes. The attractive color combination makes dishes visually appealing. [source]

🏠

Corn cob mulch and compost

Household

Dried corn cobs can be ground for mulch or added to compost. Corn husks and plant material are excellent for adding to the compost pile. [source]

🦋

Wildlife food source

Wildlife

Corn plants and dried ears attract and feed birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Many gardeners leave dried cobs and ears in the garden for winter wildlife. [source]

🍳

Corn chowders and soups

Culinary

Fresh bi-color corn kernels create creamy chowders and soups. The milk stage kernels have optimal sweetness and tender texture. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when silks are brown and dry, typically 20 days after silking appears. Ears should feel full and kernels should exude milky juice when pierced (milk stage—the ideal time for bi-color corn). Twist and pull ear downward sharply to detach. For peak sweetness, harvest in early morning and use immediately, as sugar converts to starch quickly. Bi-color corn is sweetest when harvested at the milk stage before full maturity.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Bi-color corn varieties were developed to combine the visual appeal of mixed-color kernels with the exceptional sweetness of modern sweet corn genetics. The contrast makes ears highly marketable and attractive on the dinner table.
  • 🌱 Corn is one of the most efficient photosynthesizers among crops, using C4 photosynthesis to maximize energy capture. A single corn plant can produce multiple ears, though gardeners typically allow 1-2 ears per stalk for maximum size and quality.
  • 🌱 Sweet corn varieties like bi-color types have a recessive gene (sh2 or su) that prevents the conversion of sugar to starch, keeping kernels sweeter longer than traditional field corn. However, cross-pollination with field corn will revert the crop to starchy characteristics, so isolation is important for seed saving.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Full Sun Pollination
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