How to Grow Ruby Queen
Zea mays var. amylacea 'Ruby Queen'
Ruby Queen is a stunning heirloom variety of flint corn known for its vibrant purple kernels that turn golden when dried. Gardeners grow it primarily as an ornamental specimen rather than for food, admiring its striking color and tall stature in the landscape.
Starting Ruby Queen: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Ruby Queen is not usually started indoors.
This variety is a warm-season crop that must be direct-sown outdoors only after the last frost once soil temperatures are sufficiently high.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to support this warm-season crop. You must plant seeds directly outdoors only after the last spring frost when the ground has warmed up, as cold soil will inhibit growth. Sow seeds about one inch deep, noting that germination typically takes eight to fourteen days under these warm conditions.
Space plants ten to twelve inches apart in rows to ensure good air circulation around their five-to-eight-foot tall stalks. Provide consistent moisture throughout the season since this variety requires high water levels to thrive effectively. Apply mulch to retain soil moisture and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer to support robust growth.
Protect plants from birds, corn earworms, European corn borers, and squirrels using netting or repellents early in the season. Watch for common smut, northern corn leaf blight, and rust, treating infected areas promptly if they appear. Harvest the ornamental ears approximately one hundred to one hundred ten days after sowing when the kernels have fully developed.
When to Plant Ruby Queen
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | November – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | November – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | September – November |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | September – October |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | August – October |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | July – September |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | July – August |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | June – July |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | June – July |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | June – July |
Companion Plants for Ruby Queen
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil, benefiting corn's heavy nitrogen needs
Benefits from corn's shade and doesn't compete for nutrients
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on corn pests
Repel corn earworms and other pest insects
Trap crop for cucumber beetles and aphids
Can climb corn stalks for support while fixing nitrogen
Attract beneficial insects and provide windbreak protection
Ground cover reduces weeds and retains soil moisture
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits corn growth
Stunted growth due to corn's allelopathic effects on cabbage family
Both are heavy feeders competing for same nutrients, attract similar pests
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
