How to Grow Bodacious
Zea mays 'Bodacious'
Bodacious is a vigorous hybrid corn variety known for its robust growth and excellent disease resistance. Gardeners prize this warm-season crop for reliable yields of sweet or popcorn kernels, thriving best in full sun with consistent moisture throughout the season.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Bodacious: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bodacious is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil temperatures are warm enough for germination; do not start indoors or transplant seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to support healthy root development. As a warm-season crop, direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost when the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches deep in rows spaced 30 to 36 inches apart. Expect germination within 5 to 8 days under these warm conditions.
Maintain wide spacing of 6 to 8 inches between plants within your rows to ensure proper air circulation and light penetration. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as corn requires high moisture levels during pollination. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil warmth and moisture while feeding the plants with balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
Watch for common pests like corn earworms and borers; use row covers or hand-pick early infestations. While resistant to major diseases, monitor for smut by removing affected ears promptly. Harvest your Bodacious corn approximately 75 to 80 days after sowing when kernels are fully mature and the husks have dried tightly around the cob.
When to Plant Bodacious
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | October – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | August – September |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | July – September |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | June – August |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | June – July |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – June |
Companion Plants for Bodacious
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn can utilize, part of the Three Sisters planting method
Can climb corn stalks for support while corn provides partial shade
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps that control corn pests
Benefits from corn's shade and doesn't compete for nutrients due to shallow roots
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and nematodes with their strong scent
Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters corn earworms
Ground cover suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture, completes the Three Sisters
Attract beneficial insects and can serve as natural corn supports when planted strategically
✗ Keep away from
Release juglone which is toxic to corn and inhibits growth and development
Corn can stunt growth of cabbage family plants and both compete for similar nutrients
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders creating competition, and corn can harbor tomato fruitworm
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
