How to Grow Maryland Pink Bicolor
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Maryland Pink Bicolor
Zea mays
vegetableMaryland Pink Bicolor is a sweet corn variety featuring white kernels with pink/red accents, combining excellent sweetness with attractive appearance. This mid-season variety produces 8-9 inch ears on 6-7 foot stalks and is prized for fresh eating and farmer's market appeal. The bicolor kernels retain good flavor and tenderness when properly harvested.
When should you plant Maryland Pink Bicolor in your zone?
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Example Maryland Pink Bicolor timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Maryland Pink Bicolor
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Maryland Pink Bicolor
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Maryland Pink Bicolor dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-8, can grow in zones 2-9 with proper timing
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Germination & Seedling
2-3 weeksCorn germinates in 5-10 days and emerges with a single shoot. Seedlings develop their first true leaves within 2-3 weeks.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once 3-4 inches tall. Protect from birds and cutworms.
Vegetative Growth
4-5 weeksPlant rapidly grows, developing multiple leaves and establishing a strong root system. Stalks elongate and leaf count increases progressively.
Apply balanced fertilizer at 4-6 leaf stage and again at knee-high stage. Monitor for pests. Ensure adequate water (1 inch per week). Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Tasseling & Silking
2-3 weeksMale flowers appear at the top of the stalk (tassel), while female flower silks emerge from the ear nodes. This marks the transition to reproductive growth.
Critical water period—maintain consistent 1.5 inches per week. Do not allow drought stress. Pollination occurs when pollen from tassels fertilizes silks. Stake plants if winds are strong.
Ear Development & Milk Stage
2-3 weeksEars fill out with developing kernels. Silk turns brown. Kernels contain milky fluid when squeezed (milk stage)—optimal eating stage approaches.
Continue consistent watering. Check ear maturity by piercing kernels—if clear liquid flows, ears are early; if milky fluid, ready soon. Protect from wildlife.
Harvest
5-7 days optimal windowKernels reach peak sweetness and tenderness. Silk becomes dry and brown. Ears pull easily from the stalk.
Harvest at peak milk stage (18-20 days after silking) for best flavor. Use immediately or refrigerate; sugar converts to starch quickly. Harvest by twisting and pulling the ear downward.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays at silking. Plant resistant varieties. Remove and destroy infested stalks. Crop rotation.
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Apply mineral oil to silks 1 day after emergence. Use pheromone traps. Bt spray if populations high. Hand-pick larvae.
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Bt sprays at whorl stage. Spinosad applications. Monitor with pheromone traps. Remove crop residue immediately after harvest.
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Strong water spray to dislodge. Insecticidal soap. Beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings). Neem oil if infestation severe.
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Remove and destroy galls before they open. Avoid wounding plants. Improve air circulation. No fungicide effective; prevention only.
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Electric fencing. Harvest before maturity if possible. Remove fallen ears immediately. Motion-activated sprinklers. Predator urine/fencing.
Uses
Fresh eating and boiling
CulinaryMaryland Pink Bicolor's exceptional sweetness and tender kernels make it ideal for steaming, boiling, or grilling. The attractive bicolor appearance adds visual appeal to summer meals and farmer's market presentations. [source]
Corn chowder and soups
CulinaryThe kernels release flavorful milk when cooked, making this variety excellent for creamy soups, chowders, and bisques that rely on the corn's natural sweetness and starch. [source]
Grilling and roasting
CulinaryThe bicolor kernels caramelize beautifully when grilled in husks or roasted with butter and seasonings, developing complex sweet and slightly charred flavors. [source]
Pollinator and wildlife support
WildlifeCorn provides pollen and nectar resources for bees, especially during the tasseling phase, and serves as food for beneficial insects that help control garden pests. [source]
Corn silk tea and traditional remedies
HouseholdDried corn silks can be brewed into a mild, slightly sweet tea traditionally used to support urinary tract health and general wellness. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when silks turn brown and kernels are in milk stage (18-22 days after silking). Squeeze a kernel—milky juice indicates peak ripeness. Ears should pull easily from the stalk. Twist ear downward and pull firmly. Early morning harvest after dew dries is best. Use or refrigerate immediately; flavor peaks within hours of harvest as sugars convert to starch.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The pink/red coloring in Maryland Pink Bicolor kernels is caused by anthocyanin pigments in the pericarp (kernel skin) overlaying the sweet white endosperm, creating a striking visual effect while maintaining the mild, sweet flavor of white corn.
- 🌱 Corn is one of the 'Three Sisters' in Native American agriculture—planted alongside beans (which climb the stalk and fix nitrogen) and squash (which shades the soil)—a companion planting system that optimizes space and soil health.
- 🌱 Sweet corn varieties like Maryland Pink Bicolor have a genetic mutation (su or se genes) that reduces starch production and increases sugar content, making them significantly sweeter than field corn varieties, but this sweetness begins converting back to starch immediately after harvest.
Gardening Terms
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