How to Grow Excalibur Bicolor Corn

Excalibur Bicolor Corn

Zea mays var. saccharata

vegetable

Excalibur is a bicolor sweet corn variety featuring a striking combination of yellow and white kernels on each ear. It produces tall plants with large, full ears that mature in mid-season and offer excellent flavor. This variety is popular for fresh eating, freezing, and canning.

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Example Excalibur Bicolor Corn timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Excalibur Bicolor Corn
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Excalibur Bicolor Corn
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Excalibur Bicolor Corn dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (minimum 6 hours)

💧

Water: Consistent moisture; 1-1.5 inches per week. Water deeply at soil level, especially during tasseling and silking stages to ensure proper kernel development.

📏

Spacing: 8-10 inches between plants in rows 30-36 inches apart inches

📅

Days to maturity: 75-85 days

🌱

Planting depth: 1-1.5 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost well-rotted manure balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) aged leaf mold

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-8; grows in zones 2-9 with proper timing

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

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Growth Stages

Germination & Seedling

7-10 days to emergence, 2-3 weeks total

Corn emerges with a single spike (the coleoptile) pushing through soil. First true leaves unfurl; plants are 2-4 inches tall with narrow, lance-shaped leaves.

Ensure consistent soil moisture (not waterlogged). Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they reach 3-4 inches. Watch for damping-off in cool, wet conditions.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid leaf development and stem elongation. Plants reach 12-24 inches; 4-6 visible leaf collars form. Root system expands deeply; ear primordia begin forming within the stalk.

Maintain even moisture. Apply side dressing of nitrogen fertilizer at V4-V6 stage (4-6 visible leaves). Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Check for early pest damage.

Reproductive (Tasseling & Silking)

2-3 weeks

Male tassel emerges from top of plant; female silk emerges from ear husks. Plants reach 6-8 feet tall. Tassel sheds pollen; silks catch pollen for fertilization. Critical stage for kernel set.

Critical irrigation period—provide 1.5 inches water weekly if rainfall insufficient. Avoid nitrogen excess now. Monitor for corn borers and spider mites. Ensure pollination by maintaining population density.

Grain Fill

3-4 weeks

Kernels develop from silking point onward. Ears mature from tip to base. Kernels transition from milky stage to dough to dent stage. Husks remain green initially, then brown.

Maintain consistent watering. Check ears regularly for maturity. Watch for kernel rots in humid conditions. Continue pest monitoring. Stop nitrogen fertilization.

Maturity & Harvest

1-2 weeks

Silks brown and dry. Kernels are plump, full-sized, and show slight indentation at the top. Husks are dry and brown; kernels milk out when squeezed (harvest stage) or become doughy (full maturity for seed).

Check ears daily during harvest window. Harvest when kernels are in milk to dough stage for best sweetness and tenderness. Handle carefully to avoid damaging kernels.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

beans peas squash pumpkin cucumber melons marigolds nasturtiums zinnias

Avoid planting near:

fennel brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) onions garlic

Common Pests

Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays at whorl stage; plant resistant varieties; remove infested plant parts; rotate crops; use pheromone traps for monitoring
Apply Bt or spinosad at silk emergence; cover ears with bags; introduce parasitic wasps; remove affected ears immediately
Bt sprays are effective; neem oil applications; hand-pick larvae; encourage natural predators; clean up garden debris
Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; maintain adequate irrigation; encourage beneficial insects
Spray with insecticidal soap; use neem oil; release ladybugs; remove affected leaves; strong water spray
Remove galls before they rupture and spread spores; practice crop rotation; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering

Uses

🍳

Fresh corn on the cob

Culinary

Excalibur's bicolor kernels are tender and sweet when harvested at peak ripeness. It's excellent boiled, grilled, or roasted with butter and seasonings. [source]

🍳

Freezing and preservation

Culinary

The firm kernels hold up well to blanching and freezing. This bicolor variety is ideal for canning whole or cutting kernels off the cob for year-round use. [source]

🍳

Corn salads and sides

Culinary

Fresh or cooked kernels can be removed from the cob and used in salads, salsas, soups, and side dishes. The sweetness and texture make it versatile for many recipes. [source]

🦋

Wildlife food

Wildlife

Mature corn ears provide food for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Leaving some ears unharvested supports local ecosystem diversity. [source]

🏠

Ornamental garden interest

Household

The striking bicolor ears with alternating yellow and white kernels add visual interest to the vegetable garden. Mature plants with tassels create vertical garden structure. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when kernels are in the milk stage (2-3 weeks after silking) by snapping the ear downward at a 45-degree angle. The husk should be green; kernels should release a milky fluid when punctured. Peak sweetness occurs when days are warm and nights are cool. Harvest in early morning for maximum sugar content. Use within 24 hours for best flavor, though Excalibur stores reasonably well for a few days in the refrigerator.

Fun Facts

🌱 The bicolor pattern in Excalibur results from a gene interaction between standard yellow corn (yy) and white corn (C_) parents, creating the visually striking two-tone ear.
🌱 Corn is one of the 'Three Sisters' in Native American agriculture, traditionally intercropped with beans and squash in a mutually beneficial relationship where corn provides vertical structure, beans climb and fix nitrogen, and squash shades the soil.
🌱 Excalibur's name evokes the legendary sword, reflecting its place as a 'cutting-edge' corn variety among home gardeners seeking superior sweet corn flavor and the visual appeal of bicolor ears.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Mulch Pollination Side Dress True Leaves

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