How to Grow Honey & Cream Corn
Wikimedia Commons
Honey & Cream Corn
Zea mays
vegetableHoney & Cream is a bicolor sweet corn variety that produces ears with a striking combination of yellow and white kernels. Known for its exceptional sweetness and tender texture, it's a popular choice for home gardeners and farmers markets. The plants typically reach 6-7 feet tall and mature relatively quickly compared to some other sweet corn varieties.
When should you plant Honey & Cream Corn in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Honey & Cream Corn timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Honey & Cream Corn
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Honey & Cream Corn
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Honey & Cream Corn dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; can grow in zone 2 with shorter season varieties
Sign up free to see if Honey & Cream Corn grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Honey & Cream Corn timeline →Growth Stages
Germination & Emergence
7-14 daysSeeds sprout and seedlings push through soil, developing first true leaves. Plants are 2-4 inches tall.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Ensure soil temperature is at least 60°F (preferably 65-70°F). Thin seedlings if crowded.
Vegetative Growth
25-35 daysRapid leaf and stalk development. Plants grow 3-5 feet tall, developing deep green foliage and strong root systems.
Apply balanced fertilizer when plants are 6-8 inches tall. Water consistently. Side-dress with nitrogen fertilizer when plants are knee-high. Watch for early pests.
Flowering & Tasseling
10-15 daysMale tassel emerges from top of stalk; female silks appear on developing ears. Pollen is shed and pollination occurs.
Ensure adequate and consistent moisture during this critical stage—irregular watering reduces kernel development. Do not stress plants. Maintain steady nitrogen availability.
Ear Development & Kernel Fill
15-25 daysEars swell and kernels develop and begin to fill with milk. Silks dry and darken. Ears reach full size.
Continue consistent deep watering. This is the most water-critical period. Avoid weed competition by mulching. Monitor for pests and disease.
Maturity & Harvest Readiness
Variable; monitor daily once plants are 70+ days oldKernels reach peak sweetness and milk stage. Ears feel full and plump; silks turn brown and dry.
Check ears regularly for harvest readiness by gently pulling back husks to observe kernel development. Harvest promptly for best flavor—sweetness converts to starch quickly after maturity.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick infested ears; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray when silks emerge; plant trap crops like sorghum nearby; use pheromone traps
-
Remove affected stalks and debris; apply Bt early in season; practice crop rotation; encourage beneficial insects
-
Hand-pick or use Bt spray; encourage natural predators; remove plant debris
-
Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil if severe; ensure adequate moisture
-
Spray with water; use insecticidal soap; encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps
Uses
Fresh Corn on the Cob
CulinaryHoney & Cream is prized for fresh eating, steamed or boiled with butter. The bicolor kernels provide visual appeal and the sweet flavor is enhanced when cooked immediately after harvest. [source]
Corn Salads & Salsas
CulinaryRaw kernels add sweetness and texture to summer salads, corn chowders, and fresh salsas. The tender kernels in the milk stage are especially sweet and tender. [source]
Freezing & Preservation
CulinaryKernels can be blanched and frozen to preserve harvest for winter use. Freezing soon after harvest locks in peak sweetness and nutritional value. [source]
Wildlife Habitat & Food
WildlifeCorn stalks and cobs provide habitat for beneficial insects, pollinators, and overwintering beneficial arthropods. Birds and small mammals benefit from leftover corn. [source]
Decorative & Dried Corn
HouseholdMature ears with colorful kernels are attractive for fall arrangements and corn crafts. Dried kernels can be used for decoration. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when ears are full and plump with kernels in the milk stage (typically 20 days after silking). Check by gently pulling back husk and puncturing a kernel—liquid should squirt out. Silks should be brown and dry. Pick ears by twisting and pulling downward. Harvest early morning for best sweetness. Use or cook within 24 hours of harvest for peak flavor, as sugars quickly convert to starch.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Honey & Cream's bicolor appearance comes from a combination of yellow and white kernel genes; the contrasting colors and exceptional sweetness make it a market favorite and home garden favorite since the 1980s.
- 🌱 Corn is technically a grass, not a vegetable—it's the fruit of the plant, with each kernel being a single seed or caryopsis. A single corn plant can produce 1-2 ears under good growing conditions.
- 🌱 Sweet corn loses up to 50% of its sugars within 24 hours of harvest as sugars convert to starch, which is why harvesting and cooking fresh corn immediately is essential for peak sweetness and flavor.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Honey & Cream Corn planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Honey & Cream Corn seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Honey & Cream Corn timeline →