Zea mays var. everta
Strawberry Mahogany Corn, Strawberry popcorn corn, strawberry corn: its miniature, stubby, pointed ears look remarkably like large mahogany strawberries. But its main appeal is not decorative: this is a popping corn variety, with every kernel turning into popcorn. A spectacular crop to grow with children, from seed to pan.
Characteristics:
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Miniature ears: 5 to 7 cm, strawberry-shaped, with a deep mahogany-red color.
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Popping corn: its hard kernels turn into white popcorn.
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Dual purpose: decorative ears for dried bouquets, or kernels for eating.
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Open-pollinated heirloom variety, highly productive, with many ears per plant.
Sowing advice:
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Position: full sun, in a warm location.
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Soil: deep, rich and well-drained, with a generous addition of compost — corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder.
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Method: sow in spring, directly in the ground after the last frosts, at a depth of 3 cm. Essential point: sow in a square block rather than in a single row, in clusters spaced 40 cm apart. Corn is pollinated by the wind: an isolated row produces ears that are only half-filled. See how to sow your seeds.
Care advice:
- Water regularly, especially during flowering. Earth up the base to strengthen the root anchorage against the wind.
- Important: keep it isolated from other corn. If crossed with sweet corn or ornamental corn, it loses its popping ability from the first generation onward.
Harvest advice:
- Unlike sweet corn, let the ears dry completely on the plant until the husks turn brown and the kernels are hard as glass.
- Finish drying them under cover for several weeks. Moisture content determines how well they pop: if too dry, the kernels will not pop; if too moist, they will not pop either. If they fail to pop, let the kernels rest for a few days in a sealed jar.
Beneficial companion planting:
- The traditional “Three Sisters” combination: corn provides support for climbing beans, which fix the nitrogen it needs, while squash covers the soil around their feet. See companion planting in the vegetable garden.
Benefits for biodiversity:
- Its height creates a sheltered microclimate protected from wind and evaporation for shorter neighboring crops.
- Its hollow stems, left in place over winter, provide nesting shelters for beneficial insects.
Uses:
- Popped kernels as popcorn, plain, salted or caramelized. Whole ears in decorative autumn bouquets, where they retain their mahogany color for a very long time.
Harvesting your own seeds:
This is the harvest itself: remove the kernels from a thoroughly dried ear and store them in a dry place. You must isolate your crop from other corn varieties, keeping them at least 200 meters apart or staggering their growing periods. See how to store your seeds.
Commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for all living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Auvergne Volcanoes, we choose open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties, tested for their germination rate, carefully sorted and packaged, with no chemical treatment whatsoever. Our belief: to give gardeners back the ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
Grow your own popcorn: a crop that amazes children.
