How to Grow Honey Select
Zea mays 'Honey Select'
Honey Select is a sweet corn hybrid prized for its excellent resistance to Stewart's wilt and common rust. Gardeners choose this variety for reliable yields in warm seasons where consistent moisture supports tall stalks reaching up to eight feet.
📷 Wikipedia: MaizeStarting Honey Select: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Honey Select is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors immediately after the last frost date once soil is warm enough for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8, as corn thrives in these conditions. Sow seeds directly outdoors only after the last spring frost when soil temperatures are warm enough for germination, which takes six to ten days. Plant seeds about one inch deep to ensure successful emergence.
Space plants six to eight inches apart within rows that are thirty-six inches wide to allow adequate airflow and nutrient access. Maintain consistent moisture levels throughout the growing season, as corn requires high water availability for optimal kernel development. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds while feeding regularly with balanced fertilizer.
Watch for pests like corn earworms and European corn borers; use row covers or insecticides if infestations occur. Prevent diseases such as gray leaf spot by ensuring good air circulation. Harvest ears approximately seventy-nine to eighty-two days after planting when kernels are fully mature and firm.
When to Plant Honey Select
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 Honey Select
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn can utilize, while corn provides natural support structure
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on corn borers and aphids
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and nematodes with their strong scent
Trap crop for cucumber beetles and aphids, repels corn earworm moths
Break up compacted soil with taproots, mature quickly before corn needs full space
Large leaves suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, completes the Three Sisters planting
Attract beneficial insects and birds that eat corn pests, similar growing requirements
Ground cover that attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that severely stunts corn growth and development
Cabbage family plants can stunt corn growth through root competition and allelopathic compounds
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders creating competition, shared susceptibility to corn earworm
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
