How to Grow Montego Bicolor
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Montego Bicolor
Zea mays var. saccharata
vegetableMontego Bicolor is a sweet corn variety that produces ears with a striking combination of yellow and white kernels. This tender, sweet variety is prized for its excellent flavor and attractive appearance, making it popular for home gardens and farmers markets. It typically reaches 6-7 feet in height and matures relatively quickly.
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Example Montego Bicolor timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Montego 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 Montego Bicolor
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Montego Bicolor dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; grows best in warm-season areas with 65-75°F soil temperatures
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Get my Montego Bicolor timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
1-2 weeksTwo cotyledons emerge; first true leaves unfold. Plant stands 2-4 inches tall with 2-3 visible leaf collars.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin to final spacing if direct seeding. Protect from birds and cutworms with row covers if needed.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksRapid leaf and stalk development; plant grows 12-36 inches tall. Root system expands rapidly. Typically 4-8 visible leaf collars.
Maintain consistent moisture (1 inch per week). Apply side dressing of nitrogen fertilizer when plant reaches knee-height. Stake if wind-prone.
Flowering (Tasseling & Silking)
2-3 weeksTassel emerges from top of plant; silks appear from ear husks. Plant reaches near-mature height (5-7 feet). Pollen sheds from tassel.
This is the CRITICAL stage—maintain consistent watering (1.5 inches per week). Do NOT stress plant with dry conditions. Provide adequate nitrogen. Watch for pest damage.
Kernel Development (Milk to Dough Stage)
2-3 weeksKernels fill with milky fluid, then progress to dough consistency. Ears reach full size with kernels becoming plump and juicy. Silks begin to brown.
Continue regular watering. Monitor for ear worms and other pests. Ears are susceptible to damage during this stage.
Harvest Readiness
1 week (optimal window)Kernels reach sugar peak at soft dough stage. Husks remain green and tight; silks have dried and darkened to brown. Ear feels full when gently squeezed.
Check ears every 1-2 days once silking completes. Harvest in early morning when sugar content is highest. Use immediate harvest for best sweetness.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick infested ears; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) at silk stage; plant resistant varieties; encourage parasitic wasps
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Use row covers early; apply Bt or spinosad; handpick; encourage natural predators; remove nearby grassy weeds
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Plant resistant varieties; apply Bt at whorl and tassel stages; handpick borers from stalks; remove plant debris after harvest
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Hand-pick in early morning; use pheromone traps away from garden; apply neem oil; encourage beneficial wasps
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Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings
Uses
Fresh sweet corn and boiling
CulinaryThe primary use is fresh off-the-cob, boiled, steamed, or grilled. Montego's bicolor appearance and excellent sweet flavor make it ideal for table corn and farmers market sales. [source]
Corn salads and side dishes
CulinaryFresh kernels can be cut from the cob and used in salads, succotash, salsa, and corn chowders while at peak tenderness and sweetness. [source]
Freezing for long-term storage
CulinarySweet corn freezes exceptionally well when blanched immediately after harvest. Montego maintains good texture and flavor through the winter months. [source]
Ornamental garden appeal
HouseholdThe striking bicolor kernels (yellow and white) make harvested ears attractive for seasonal decorations and farmers market displays beyond simple eating corn. [source]
Wildlife food source
WildlifeMature ears and plant debris provide food for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife; corn stalks offer garden structure and wildlife habitat. [source]
Harvest Tips
Montego Bicolor is ready to harvest at the milk stage (soft dough), typically 20-24 days after silking begins. Peak sweetness occurs in early morning. Husks should be green and tight with brown silks. Test by gently squeezing ear—kernels should feel plump but release a milky liquid when pierced with fingernail. Twist and pull ear downward sharply to remove. Use or refrigerate immediately; sugar converts to starch quickly after harvest.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bicolor corn varieties like Montego blend the sweetness of sugary genotypes with the creamy texture preferred in traditional corn, creating a unique flavor profile that became hugely popular starting in the 1980s.
- 🌱 Corn's silks are modified leaves; each kernel has its own individual silk that must be pollinated by pollen for that kernel to develop fully—a single ear may have 400+ silks.
- 🌱 Sugar in sweet corn converts to starch very rapidly after harvest (sometimes called 'the sugar clock'), which is why ultra-fresh corn tastes so much sweeter than corn picked days earlier—placing harvested ears on ice immediately slows this conversion significantly.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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