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How to Grow Bi-Color Corn Delectable

Wikimedia Commons

Bi-Color Corn Delectable

Zea mays

vegetable

Bi-Color Corn Delectable is a hybrid sweet corn variety featuring kernels that are a mix of yellow and white, offering a sweet, tender eating experience. This mid-season maturing corn produces medium-sized ears on stalks of moderate height, making it suitable for home gardens and small-scale farming. The kernels have excellent flavor and retain their sweetness well after harvest.

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

  1. Plant Bi-Color Corn Delectable

    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 Delectable

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum
💧
Water: Consistent moisture throughout growing season; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Water deeply at the base to encourage deep root development. Critical during tasseling and silking stages.
📏
Spacing: 8-12 inches between plants in rows; rows 24-36 inches apart inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-85 days
🌱
Planting depth: 1.5-2 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost well-rotted manure balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or higher nitrogen)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-8; can be grown in zones 2-9 with appropriate timing

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

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Growth Stages

1

Germination & Seedling

1-2 weeks

Seeds sprout and develop first true leaves. Plants are 2-6 inches tall with 3-4 leaves visible.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they reach 4-6 inches tall. Protect from birds and cutworms with row covers if needed.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid leaf and stem development. Plants grow 12-24 inches tall, developing 6-10 leaves. Root system expands deep into the soil.

Provide consistent watering. Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer at 6-8 inches height and again at 12-18 inches. Hill soil around base for stability. Monitor for pest damage.

3

Tasseling & Silking

2-3 weeks

Male flower (tassel) emerges from top of stalk; female flowers (silks) emerge from ear nodes. Plant reaches near full height (6-8 feet).

This is the most critical stage for water and nutrition. Water deeply and regularly—drought stress now severely impacts kernel development. Ensure consistent moisture. Do not allow soil to dry out.

4

Kernel Fill & Maturation

2-3 weeks

Kernels develop and fill with starch and sugars. Ears feel full and heavy. Silks turn brown and dry out. Kernels reach mature size.

Continue regular watering through early kernel fill. Stop watering once kernels reach maximum size to concentrate sugars. Monitor for late-season pests.

5

Harvest Readiness

3-5 days

Kernels are plump and milky when punctured; silks are completely brown. Ears feel heavy and kernels are firm. Plant reaches full maturity.

Check ears daily once they reach maturity. Harvest when silk is dark brown and kernels are in milk stage (optimal flavor). Corn is best eaten within hours of harvest.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Beans peas cucumber pumpkin squash melon lettuce spinach radish carrot

Avoid planting near:

Broccoli cabbage celery fennel tomato onion garlic

Common Pests

  • Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) when silks emerge. Hand-pick larvae. Use pheromone traps for monitoring. Maintain good garden sanitation.

  • Spray Bt on foliage and into whorls starting at V4 stage. Use spinosad for severe infestations. Hand-pick caterpillars. Destroy affected plant material.

  • Monitor plants regularly. Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap if populations exceed threshold. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.

  • Apply Bt at early whorl stage and repeat every 7-10 days. Remove and destroy infested plant material. Plant resistant varieties when available.

  • Hand-pick beetles in early morning. Use pheromone traps away from plants. Neem oil or spinosad sprays can reduce populations. Avoid trap placement near corn.

  • Remove galls before they rupture and release spores. Dispose of infected material. Improve drainage and air circulation. Avoid overhead watering.

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and cooking

Culinary

Bi-color sweet corn is exceptional for fresh eating off the cob, grilling, boiling, or steaming. The combination of yellow and white kernels offers a visually attractive presentation and balanced sweet flavor. [source]

🍳

Corn on the cob preparation

Culinary

The kernels remain tender and flavorful for 2-3 days after harvest when properly stored. Ideal for traditional corn-on-the-cob dishes, fresh corn salads, and corn chowders. [source]

🍳

Corn meal and flour

Culinary

While sweet corn is not ideal for grinding into cornmeal (dent corn is preferred), it can be dried and ground for specialty flour applications or cornbread. [source]

🏠

Garden and table decoration

Household

The beautiful bi-color ear presentation makes this corn variety attractive for farmers markets, table centerpieces, and ornamental garden displays. [source]

🦋

Wildlife attraction and feeding

Wildlife

Corn serves as an important food source for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Mature ears left on the plant benefit fall and winter wildlife populations. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when silks are completely brown and dry, and kernels are in the milk stage (squeeze and a milky juice appears). Ears should feel plump and full. Twist and pull ears downward and away from the stalk. For best flavor and tenderness, harvest in early morning and cook within hours. Check ears daily once mature, as peak flavor lasts only 2-3 days.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Sweet corn kernels contain 1.9-3.3% sugar by weight, while field corn contains only 0.6% sugar, making the difference between fresh eating and starch production dramatic.
  • 🌱 Corn silks are actually the stigmas of the female flowers—each silk connects to one potential kernel, and pollen must land on the silk for that kernel to develop.
  • 🌱 Bi-color corn produces its unique appearance due to a natural genetic variation that affects pigment deposition in the kernel endosperm, creating a visually striking blend of yellow and white kernels.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid Row Cover True Leaves
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