How to Grow Crackerjack Mix Popcorn

Wikimedia Commons

Crackerjack Mix Popcorn

Zea mays var. everta

vegetable

Crackerjack Mix is a hybrid popcorn variety known for its excellent popping quality and sweet, caramel-like flavor when prepared. This tall corn plant produces kernels that are specially selected for uniform popping and minimal unpopped 'old maids.' It's a favorite for both home gardeners and commercial popcorn producers due to its reliable yields and distinctive taste.

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Example Crackerjack Mix Popcorn timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Crackerjack Mix Popcorn
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Crackerjack Mix Popcorn
Around Jul 21

≈ 95 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Crackerjack Mix Popcorn dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily

💧

Water: Consistent moisture, approximately 1-1.5 inches per week; requires adequate water during silk emergence and kernel development stages

📏

Spacing: 8 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 95-110 days

🌱

Planting depth: 1.5 inches

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) Nitrogen supplementation mid-season

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; best performance in zones 5-8 with adequate summer heat

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Corn emerges with a single shoot and develops its first true leaves; plants are 2-6 inches tall

Thin seedlings to proper spacing (8 inches apart). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Monitor for cutworms and early pest damage.

Vegetative Growth

4-5 weeks

Rapid leaf and stalk development; plants reach 3-5 feet tall with 8-12 visible leaves; root system expands deeply

Apply nitrogen fertilizer when plants are 12-18 inches tall. Provide consistent water (1-1.5 inches weekly). Support tall plants if in windy locations.

Flowering & Pollination

2-3 weeks

Tassels emerge from plant tops; silks develop from ear husks; pollen sheds from tassels onto silks

Critical water period—maintain even moisture to ensure complete kernel development. Avoid stress. Do not disturb plants during pollination. Monitor for corn borers.

Kernel Development

3-4 weeks

Kernels fill out with starch and sugar; ears feel heavy and full; kernels transition from milky to doughy stage

Continue consistent watering. Reduce nitrogen to encourage kernel hardening rather than excess vegetative growth. Watch for raccoon and bird damage.

Maturity & Drying Down

2-4 weeks

Kernels harden completely; husks dry and brown; stalks begin to senesce; kernels develop the characteristic popcorn texture

Stop watering once kernels are fully mature. Allow ears to dry on the stalk until husks are papery (at least 2-3 weeks after kernel maturity). Harvest when moisture content is 12-15%.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Beans Peas Squash Pumpkin Cucumber Melon Lettuce Spinach

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Other corn varieties (risk of cross-pollination affecting popcorn quality)

Common Pests

Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays at whorl stage; plant resistant varieties; remove affected stalks; till soil deeply after harvest
Apply Bt to silks when they appear; use pheromone traps; hand-pick affected ears; encourage natural predators
and
Install electric fencing around garden; harvest promptly when mature; use motion-activated sprinklers; remove fallen ears
Remove and destroy galls before they burst; maintain crop rotation (3 years); avoid excess nitrogen; plant resistant varieties
Spray with insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings); strong water spray removes aphids
Hand-pick early morning; use row covers on young plants; apply neem oil; avoid pheromone traps near garden

Uses

🍳

Homemade popcorn

Culinary

Crackerjack Mix is specifically bred for superior popping quality, producing fluffy popcorn with excellent expansion and minimal unpopped kernels. The variety is prized for its naturally sweet flavor profile. [source]

🍳

Caramel & candied corn

Culinary

The inherent sweetness and dense kernel structure make Crackerjack Mix ideal for traditional caramel corn and other candied popcorn confections. The consistent kernel size ensures even coating and popping. [source]

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Ornamental decoration

Household

Dried popcorn ears can be used as autumn and holiday decorations. The ears can be painted or left natural, and kernels can be popped fresh throughout the storage season. [source]

🦋

Wildlife feed

Wildlife

Mature, dried ears left in the field or provided as feed serve as an excellent natural food source for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. The dried kernels are high in carbohydrates and fiber. [source]

🏠

Seed saving

Household

Well-dried Crackerjack Mix ears can be stored for 1-2 years and used to save seeds for future planting. Kernels should be kept in cool, dry conditions for optimal germination rates. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest ears when husks are completely dry and brown, typically 20-30 days after silks first appear. The cob and kernel should be hard and resistant to fingernail pressure. Remove husks and allow ears to dry further in a warm, dry location for 2-4 weeks after harvest until moisture content reaches 12-15%. Store in a cool, dry place in sealed containers. Test popping quality before final storage—kernels should pop with minimal unpopped kernels.

Fun Facts

🌱 Popcorn is one of the oldest cultivated varieties of corn, with evidence of popcorn consumption dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas; Crackerjack Mix was developed specifically to maximize the desirable popping trait.
🌱 Popcorn pops due to moisture trapped inside the hard kernel—when heated to approximately 350°F (177°C), the water turns to steam, building pressure until the kernel explodes; Crackerjack's uniform kernel size ensures more consistent popping than other varieties.
🌱 Crackerjack popcorn was made famous by the iconic Cracker Jack brand caramel corn treat introduced in 1896, though the Crackerjack Mix variety itself is a modern hybrid developed for home and commercial growers seeking premium popping kernels.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid Pollination True Leaves

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