Corn cobs have to be golden yellow? None! In addition to the traditional yellow vegetable corn, there are numerous other, sometimes colorful types. However, not all varieties are suitable for raw consumption; some are bred specifically for aromatic popcorn, others for the production of corn flour (polenta).
What different types of corn are there?
There are numerous varieties of corn such as Golden Bantam, Bloody Butcher and Oaxacan Green for vegetable consumption, strawberry corn and Golden Butter for popcorn, and Dakota Black and ornamental corn for balcony cultivation. Some varieties are also used to make corn flour or as animal feed.
Delicious vegetable corn varieties for the garden
The best known and most popular type of vegetable corn is probably the Golden Bantam. This variety produces large cobs with firm, sweet grains. Golden Bantam is also very productive, especially if you water and fertilize diligently during the growth phase.
Colorful instead of golden yellow
However, if yellow corn is too boring for you, try growing colorful corn varieties that, like Golden Bantam, can be eaten as vegetable corn. These species mostly come from South America. An old and very popular variety is Bloody Butcher, which produces fiery red, very sweet grains. Due to its sweetness, this corn is more of a sugar corn than a vegetable corn. Another very old variety is the green Oaxacan Green, which can be eaten young as vegetable corn.
Specially for popcorn lovers
For popcorn, you should use special types of popcorn such as: B. Use strawberry corn or the classic style Golden Butter. In contrast to vegetable corn, you should let popcorn corn mature on the plant.
Optimal species for balcony cultivation
For balcony cultivation, low-growing or small varieties of corn should be preferred, otherwise things can quickly become crowded. Well-suited varieties are:
- Strawberrycorn
- various types of ornamental corn (the plants usually only grow to around 1.20 meters high)
- black popcorn (e.g. Dakota Black, only grows about a meter high)
Of course, sweet corn or vegetable corn plants of normal height can also thrive on the balcony. However, a deep tub or bucket is then necessary because corn has deep roots. In addition, these species can grow up to three meters high.
Botanical classification
It is estimated that there are currently 50,000 different types of corn in the world. These differ in height, in their requirements and, above all, in the size and shape of their cobs as well as the size, shape, arrangement and color of their grains. Not all varieties are suitable for human consumption. Sugar or vegetable corn is eaten, while grain corn is used as animal feed. There is also hard, soft and dent corn. Both hard and dent corn are also mostly used as animal feed, while soft corn is used to make corn flour.
Tips & Tricks
Baby corn is not a special variety, but rather just sweet or vegetable corn, the cobs of which are harvested when they are around 10 centimeters long. These calves are particularly tender.