How to Grow Early Sunglow
Zea mays 'Early Sunglow'
Early Sunglow is a popular hybrid sweet corn variety known for its reliable performance and good disease resistance. Gardeners choose this crop for its vibrant yellow kernels and ability to thrive in warm summer conditions where other cool-season plants would fail.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Early Sunglow: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Early Sunglow is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring it is loose, well-draining, and adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Since corn is a warm-season crop, do not sow seeds until after the last spring frost when the ground has warmed up. Plant seeds directly in the garden at a depth of about one inch. Expect germination to occur within 7 to 10 days under these warm conditions.
Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart in rows, allowing them to grow to heights of 5 to 8 feet without needing trellises or supports. Maintain consistent moisture levels as this variety has high water requirements throughout its development. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and feed the plants regularly with a balanced fertilizer to support heavy ear production.
Watch for common pests like corn earworms, European corn borers, rootworms, and raccoons; use row covers or netting to deter birds and mammals. Monitor fields for southern corn leaf blight, common smut, and rust, ensuring good air circulation to prevent fungal spread. Harvest the ears approximately 62 to 65 days after planting when kernels are fully mature and plump.
When to Plant Early Sunglow
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 | September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | July – September |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | July – August |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | June – July |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | May – July |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | April – June |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | April – June |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | April – June |
Companion Plants for Early Sunglow
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn can utilize, while corn provides natural support
Attracts beneficial predatory insects that control corn pests like aphids
Benefits from corn's partial shade during hot weather, maximizing space use
Deter corn earworms, aphids, and nematodes with their strong scent
Attract beneficial insects and repel cucumber beetles and corn earworms
Climb corn stalks for support while fixing nitrogen to benefit corn growth
Large leaves provide ground cover to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Attract pollinators and beneficial insects while providing windbreak protection
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that severely stunts corn growth and development
Compete heavily for nitrogen and can stunt corn growth in early stages
Inhibits corn growth through allelopathic compounds released by roots
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders creating intense competition for nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
