How to Grow Sugar Enhanced (SE) Butter and Sugar
Zea mays 'Butter and Sugar'
Zea mays 'Butter and Sugar' is a sweet corn variety prized for its enhanced sugar content and tender kernels. Gardeners grow this warm-season crop to enjoy fresh, juicy ears straight from the garden during summer months.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Sugar Enhanced (SE) Butter and Sugar: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Sugar Enhanced (SE) Butter and Sugar 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 loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground is thoroughly warm before sowing directly outdoors. Do not start indoors or transplant early. Press seeds about one inch deep into the soil to ensure good contact. Expect germination within seven to ten days under these warm conditions.
Plant seeds eight to twelve inches apart in rows spaced four feet apart for proper air circulation. This tall variety reaches five to eight feet, so avoid trellising as it grows upright without support. Maintain consistent moisture levels throughout the season since corn thrives with high water availability. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for common pests like corn earworms and rootworms, which can be managed by monitoring plants regularly. Diseases such as Stewart's wilt or gray leaf spot may appear; ensure good airflow to prevent spread. Harvest your ears approximately seventy-five to eighty days after planting when the kernels are milky and tender.
When to Plant Sugar Enhanced (SE) Butter and Sugar
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 Sugar Enhanced (SE) Butter and Sugar
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil that corn needs, while corn provides natural trellis support
Compatible growth habits and help maximize garden space efficiently
Attracts beneficial wasps that prey on corn earworms and aphids
Repel corn earworms, aphids, and other harmful insects with strong scent
Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters corn borers
Attracts hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control corn pests
Ground cover reduces weeds and retains moisture, part of Three Sisters planting
Attract beneficial insects and provide windbreak protection for corn
✗ Keep away from
Release juglone toxin that inhibits corn growth and development
Cabbage family plants can stunt corn growth through allelopathic compounds
Both are heavy nitrogen feeders creating competition, tomato hornworms may spread to corn
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
