Corn is an excellent crop to cultivate because it grows quickly, produces a bountiful harvest, and has versatile uses in the kitchen. However, choosing which variety to plant can be challenging due to the vast number of options available.
All of the following early Zea mays (corn) varieties have specific attributes that make them unique. Use the list below to help decide which variety to grow in your garden this season!
Note: In terms of sugar content, SU refers to standard corn, SE is short for sugary enhanced corn, and Sh2 stands for supersweet.
1. Sunglow
An early maturing variety that yields uniform ears and has great cold and frost tolerance. It grows to be around 4’ tall with ears that are about 6-7”.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 64
- Kernel color: Light yellow
2. Yukon Chief
Yukon Chief doesn’t surpass 4’ in height with ears growing between 4-5” inches long. This is a great alternative for limited gardening space and for shorter growing seasons.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 55
- Kernel color: Light yellow
3. Earlivee
Ears of Earlivee grow 6-7” long on stalks averaging about 5’ tall. It has high heat and humidity tolerance and does best when fed with a strong balanced fertilizer.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 60
- Kernel color: Yellow
4. Spring Treat
A good early-season variety for the spring, this corn will grow 5’ tall stalks with ears of corn about 8” in length. It is known to be extra tasty with a high eating quality!
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 68
- Kernel color: Yellow
5. Seneca Horizon
This is a large corn variety that grows ears between 9 and 12” long on stalks 5.5’ tall. This variety takes longer to mature, but its yields are unparalleled.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 80
- Kernel color: Dark yellow
6. Quickie
This is a great variety that doesn’t grow too tall, only reaching about 5’ when mature. Ears are on average 7” long and have a great flavor that lasts after being picked.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 64
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
7. Precocious
This early sweet, stress-tolerant corn grows well in a variety of climates. It only grows to be about 5’ tall at maturity and has medium-sized ears about 6-7” long.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 66
- Kernel color: White and light yellow
8. Spring Snow
While its bright white cobs are beautiful, it is not known for its sweetness being a starchy variety. It grows on a compact stalk reaching no more than 4.5’ tall.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 65
- Kernel color: White
9. Quick Start
This is an early Sh2 variety that will beat most varieties to market. It grows 7.5” ears on 6’ tall stalks quickly for a great and early harvest.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 68
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
10. Who Gets Kissed
This new-to-market seed is unique because it is the first new open-pollinated variety to be released in 100 years! This variety grows to be 6’ tall with ears 7” long and has a long harvest window.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 80
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
11. Trinity
This variety is known for its increased sugar and tenderness. Trinity seeds don’t mind sprouting in the cool early spring soil, eventually growing 6’ tall and producing 8” ears.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 68
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
12. Sugar Buns
Growing on easy-to-reach stalks about 5’ tall, these ears average 7” long. It’s known to be a great variety that has a classic corn flavor while growing easily as a hybrid plant does.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 70
- Kernel color: Yellow
13. Catalyst XR
While all the varieties on this list are early harvest types, this is the fastest-growing supersweet available. Large size ears of 7-8″ make it a great variety for corn on the cob!
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 66
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
14. Kickoff XR
Sturdy 6’ tall plants grow ears of corn about 8” in length. A well-bred supersweet variety, this plant will produce multiple uniform cobs and is great for the market.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 69
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
15. Sweetness
A strong growing supersweet variety, these plants average 6’ tall and grow ears 8” long. A great classic-tasting sweet corn variety great for summer harvests!
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 68
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
16. Temptress
This corn is known for its 8” ears that have a strong classic heirloom flavor with all the disease resistance of a modern-day variety.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 70
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
17. Early Xtra Sweet
An AAS winner, this super sweet variety is sure to impress! These 6-7” ears will only get sweeter in storage because they convert their sugars to starch slower than most varieties.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 75
- Kernel color: Yellow
18. Radiance
Lovely, full, yellow cobs of corn are some of the sweetest that you’ll taste. Grow this 6-7” cob-sized corn variety for your classic yellow corn flavor.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: Yellow
19. Sugar Pearl
Abundant crops of 8” ears on 6.5’ tall stalks are likely as the first ears begin only about 16” from the ground. It is known for its taste and easy marketability.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: White
20. Bodacious
Well worth the wait! With a long maturity time, this variety grows extremely good-quality ears. The tall 7’ stalks grow large cobs to match averaging about 8” each.
- Sugar content: SE
- Days to maturity: 80
- Kernel color: Yellow
21. Xtra-Tender 2171
A widely adapted variety that grows anywhere in the U.S., these 6’ tall stalks grow large 8.5” cobs. It is a well-known variety for its easy-to-harvest cobs.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 71
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
22. Xtra-tender 20173
Best grown as a main season variety, 6.5’ tall plants grow strong ears 7-8” long. It has easy harvestability with ears that snap off the stalk and store well for longer periods of time.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
23. Xtra-tender 3473
With its cool white kernels, this variety is regarded as one of the best tasting! With wide adaptability, these medium-sized 6’ tall plants grow 8” ears.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 75
- Kernel color: White
24. Summer Sweet Multisweet SS2742
This variety’s extreme sweetness will remind you of a dessert, so be ready for a treat! It is a well-bred easy-to-grow variety that produces large 8” ears.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 78
- Kernel color: Yellow
25. Nicole
If you’re looking for an overall great white sweet corn, look no further! Nicole is known for a large early yield of bountiful large 8” ears in a uniform shape and husk on sturdy 6’ tall plants.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 72
- Kernel color: White
26. Butter and Sugar
Known to be one of the best corn varieties to grow for a classic well-known sweetcorn flavor, its ears average 7-8” with each plant only producing 1 or 2 ears.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
27. Double Standard
Tasty raw or cooked, this variety grows best in warm soils and will suffer in cool temperatures. Abundant ears grow to be 7” long on 5’ tall plants.
- Sugar content: SU
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
28. Signature XR
Signature XR is a solid corn variety for its classic corn taste, easy harvest ability, market quality, and storage life. Large 7-8” cobs grown on 6.5’ plants make this a great mid-season crop.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 73
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
29. Anthem XR
This high-yielding variety has a great eating quality and has been bred with larger agriculture in mind to be used with select Roundup products without affecting the crop.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 74
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
30. Natural Sweet Organic
A great organic option, this variety will mature with large, plump 8” ears that taste as good as they look! Grow this as your organic classic heirloom quality variety.
- Sugar content: Sh2
- Days to maturity: 74
- Kernel color: Yellow and white
Conclusion
Corn breeds easily, and new varieties are always replacing old ones. Above are 30 early-ripening varieties that have a great diversity in their color, sweetness, and stalk size.
I’m sure you’ll be able to find a few favorites to grow in your garden!