Growing your own popcorn is a rewarding gardening project that yields a unique, ready-to-eat crop. This process begins not with the kernels found on the grocery shelf but with viable planting seeds. Understanding where to source these specific seeds and how to successfully cultivate them will ensure your harvest is abundant and delicious.
Knowing What Popcorn Seeds to Buy
The first step is recognizing the difference between a popping kernel and a planting seed. Dried kernels sold for consumption are no longer viable for planting, as they may have been treated or processed in a way that destroys the embryo inside. To successfully grow popcorn, you must purchase live, untreated seeds specifically sold by garden suppliers.
Popcorn varieties are generally grouped by the shape of the popped kernel: Butterfly and Mushroom types. Butterfly popcorn is the common, irregularly shaped, fluffy popcorn perfect for eating plain, while Mushroom popcorn pops into a dense, round shape that holds up well to coatings. Other specialty types include “hulless” varieties, which have a thinner hull that shatters easily upon popping, resulting in a more tender snack.
When selecting seeds, you will see the terms hybrid and heirloom or open-pollinated. Heirloom seeds, which are open-pollinated, produce plants genetically identical to the parent, allowing you to save kernels from your harvest to plant the following year. Hybrid seeds, developed for traits like higher yield or disease resistance, will not grow true-to-type if you save their seeds, meaning you must purchase new seeds each season. Heirloom varieties like ‘Strawberry Popcorn’ or ‘Glass Gem’ are often preferred by home gardeners focused on seed saving.
Where to Purchase Planting Seeds
The best place to find popcorn seeds is through specialized online seed companies, which offer the widest selection of varieties. Vendors focused on rare, heirloom, or non-GMO seeds often carry unique types like ‘Tom Thumb Dwarf’ or ‘Dakota Black Popcorn.’ Purchasing from these reputable sources ensures you receive seeds with documented germination rates and clear information on days to maturity.
Local nurseries and large garden centers also stock popcorn seeds, though their selection is limited to a few common yellow or white hybrid varieties. Availability is highly seasonal, so shopping early in the spring is recommended to secure the best stock. Always check the packaging for the current year’s planting date to confirm seed viability before making a purchase.
For gardeners seeking locally adapted or heritage varieties, farmer cooperatives or regional seed banks are an excellent resource. These groups often feature seeds that have been grown and saved in your specific climate. These local sources offer varieties better suited to regional soil and weather conditions, providing an advantage over nationally sourced seeds.
Successful Planting and Growing Tips
Popcorn requires a long, warm growing season, so timing the planting is key. Seeds should be sown directly into the garden only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has consistently reached at least 60°F, with 65°F being the ideal minimum for quick germination. Planting too early in cold, wet soil can cause the seeds to rot before they sprout.
Popcorn plants thrive in full sun and rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0. Because corn is a heavy feeder, amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Plant the seeds approximately one inch deep in heavy soil or up to two inches deep in sandy soil, spacing them about eight to ten inches apart.
Planting in blocks of at least four rows, rather than a single long row, is necessary for proper development. Corn is wind-pollinated, and this block formation significantly increases the chances of pollen reaching the silks of the female ear, ensuring fully developed ears. Popcorn requires consistent moisture, needing about one to two inches of water per week, especially during the mid-summer growth phase. Side-dressing the plants with a high-nitrogen fertilizer when they are about six inches tall will support their rapid growth and yield.