HICKORY KING CORN

Zea mays

An old dent corn from Virginia, and one that is an valuable architectural wonder in the garden. Incredibly tall stalks can grow to 12' and are perfect for hosting vigorous pole beans like Trail of Tears. Produces two ears per stalk. Reliable and resistant to several corn pests and diseases in Eastern gardens. Mature ears have big creamy kernels with delicate thin hulls that are easily removed via nixtamalization. Ideal for hominy. Grinding the dried nixtamal will produce a silky flour that is perfect for tortillas.

Tuck seeds an inch below the surface of warm fertile soil in full sun in spring. Space generously and consider growing in small blocks of four to sixteen plants if you intend to grow pole beans up the stalks. Water frequently until germinated and fairly regularly therafter. Once plants are at least 1' high, plant two or three bean seeds around corn stalks on the outer edges of the blocks, tucking in about 6" from the base of the stalks, ultimately thinning to just one bean plant per stalk. Alternatively, plant three or four fairly closely spaced rows of corn along the northern edge of the garden and plant beans around the southernmost row of stalks.

Allow ears to dry completely in the garden before harvesting. The tight husks of Hickory King do well at preventing rot during cool wet spells. Once ears are harvested, shuck them and transfer kernels to an airtight jar until ready to process.

Packet contains at least 50 seeds.