The Best Sweet Corn Varieties for Home Gardeners

After more than three decades of growing sweet corn in various climates, I can say that choosing the right variety for your garden is the single most important decision for a successful harvest. It affects not just the flavor but how well your crop grows in your region’s soil and weather. Whether you’re planting in a short-season northern garden or a long, hot southern summer, your variety choice should reflect both taste preference and growing conditions.

Sweet corn varieties fall into three main types based on flavor and sugar content: standard (SU), sugary-enhanced (SE), and supersweet (SH2). Each type has specific traits that influence planting time, flavor window, and how long the ears stay sweet after harvest. I’ll also share recommendations for specialty corn: baby corn, popcorn, and ornamental types. Finally, you’ll find my top picks by season and purpose—plus tips I’ve learned that guarantee better flavor, pollination, and yields.

Table of Contents

The Three Main Types of Sweet Corn

Sweet corn varieties fall into three main types based on flavor and sugar content: standard (SU), sugary-enhanced (SE), and supersweet (SH2). These types didn’t just appear overnight—they’re the result of decades of plant breeding and selection aimed at improving flavor, texture, and shelf life. Standard sweet corn (SU) is the classic heirloom type many of our grandparents grew—known for its rich, corny flavor and need to be eaten quickly after harvest. Sugary-enhanced (SE) varieties came next, developed to hold their sweet flavor a little longer—typically up to three days—giving home gardeners a bit more harvest flexibility. Then came supersweet (SH2) corn, a modern innovation boasting ultra-sweet flavor and an even longer shelf life. Each type has specific traits that influence when you can plant, how quickly it matures, and how long it stays sweet once picked. Whether you’re after old-fashioned corn flavor or the sweetest kernels you’ve ever tasted, there’s a type for every taste and growing condition!

Standard Sweet Corn: Old-Fashioned Flavor

Standard varieties are the classic sweet corn—what your grandparents probably grew. These heirlooms and open-pollinated types have that rich, deep corn flavor and are perfect for gardeners who want to eat corn fresh within an hour of picking. They can be planted earlier than other types—when soil temperatures reach 55°F.

Recommended Varieties:

Butter and Sugar – 73 days. Bicolor, rich flavor. 7–8″ ears. Disease-resistant.
Golden Cross Bantam – 85 days. Large yellow ears, 7½–8″ long. Prolific, sturdy.
Jubilee – 83 days. Sweet yellow corn, 8–9″ ears. Great for fresh use or processing.
Silver Queen – 88 days. Snow-white kernels. Very sweet, holds well post-harvest.

Tip: Standard corn loses sweetness quickly—eat it as soon as you pick it for the best flavor.

Sugary-Enhanced Corn (SE): Extended Sweetness

Sugary-enhanced hybrids hold their sweetness for 2 to 3 days after harvest—giving you a more flexible picking window. These varieties are slightly sweeter and more tender than standard types but need warmer soil—at least 65°F—for best germination.

Recommended Varieties:

Breeder’s Choice – 73 days. Light yellow kernels. Extra sweet; two ears per stalk.
How Sweet It Is – 87 days. Crisp white kernels. Flavor holds well; great storage.
Kandy Korn – 89 days. Golden-yellow kernels. Excellent for freezing and canning.

Tip: If you can’t monitor the crop daily, grow SE types for a bit of harvest wiggle room.

Supersweet Corn (SH2): High Sugar, Demands High Heat

Supersweets are the sweetest of all. These hybrids offer a concentrated sugary flavor but are less vigorous and require warm, well-prepared soil—at least 65°F or more. Pre-warming the soil with black plastic helps.

Recommended Varieties:

Early Xtra Sweet – 71 days. Small, tender ears; disease-resistant.
Sweetie – 82 days. Deep golden kernels, stays sweet long, low calorie.
Illini Xtra Sweet – 85 days. High-yielding, freezer friendly.

Tip: Supersweets are best for gardeners with warm soil, full sun, and patience.

Specialty Corn Types

In addition to traditional sweet corn, specialty corn varieties offer unique uses and flavors for home gardeners. Baby corn is harvested young, just after silks emerge, and is ideal for stir-fries, pickling, and salads. Popcorn varieties like ‘Black Popcorn’ and ‘White Cloud’ produce small, flavorful kernels that pop into tender, delicious snacks. Ornamental corn—such as ‘Glass Gem’ and ‘Indian Corn’—features multicolored kernels and is perfect for fall displays or crafts. These specialty types add diversity, beauty, and utility to your garden beyond fresh eating.

Baby Corn

Baby Asian – Harvest young for tender cobs perfect for stir-fry or pickling.

Popcorn

Black Popcorn – Deep blue-black kernels, pops white with blue base.
Gold Hybrid – Large-popping, excellent quality.
White Cloud – Hull-less, fluffy white corn. Good for cooler climates.

Ornamental Corn

Indian Corn – 7–9″ ears with multicolored kernels; great for decor.
Glass Gem – Stunning multicolor heirloom, also makes cornmeal or popcorn.
Strawberry Popcorn – Compact plants with deep red “berry-sized” ears.

Varieties by Harvest Season

To stagger your harvest and enjoy corn all season long, select varieties with different maturity dates. Choosing sweet corn by harvest season ensures a steady supply throughout the summer and into early fall. Early-season varieties like ‘Early Sunglow’ and ‘Sugar Buns’ mature quickly—perfect for short growing seasons or getting a jump start on the harvest. Midseason varieties such as ‘Golden Bantam’ and ‘Butter and Sugar’ strike a balance between flavor and yield, thriving in most climates. Late-season varieties like ‘Kandy Korn’ and ‘Silver Queen’ take longer to mature but reward you with large, flavorful ears just as the season winds down. For continuous harvests, stagger plantings every two to three weeks using a mix of early, mid, and late-season cultivars.

Yellow Corn

Early: ‘Bodacious’, ‘Early Sunglow’, ‘Sugar Buns’
Midseason: ‘Golden Bantam’, ‘Golden Cross Bantam’
Late: ‘Kandy Korn’

White Corn

Early: ‘Platinum Lady’, ‘Sugar Snow’
Midseason: ‘Alpine’, ‘Divinity’
Late: ‘How Sweet It Is’, ‘Silver Queen’

Bi-Color Corn

Early: ‘Double Gem’, ‘Quickie’, ‘Sugar and Gold’
Midseason: ‘Butter and Sugar’, ‘Honey and Cream’
Late: ‘Pilot’

Space-Saving Picks:

‘Baby Corn’ – 65 days
‘Golden Midget’ – 65 days

My Recommended “Grower-Tested” Varieties

Here are some of my personal favorites—reliable, flavorful, and just plain fun to grow! These varieties consistently shine in home gardens across a range of climates and growing conditions:

‘Avalon’ – A standout white corn with tender, sweet kernels and excellent disease resistance. It’s ready in about 82 days and never disappoints.
‘Big N’ Tender’ – This bicolor beauty combines bold flavor with strong resistance to common corn diseases. A solid pick for any garden, maturing in 79 days.
‘Cafe’ – One of the best choices for early planting in cool soil, this fast-maturing yellow corn (68 days) is both flavorful and vigorous.
‘Glass Gem’ – A showstopper in the garden, this ornamental variety produces rainbow-colored ears that are as stunning as they are versatile—great for popping or grinding.
‘Sugar Buns’ – True to its name, this sugar-enhanced corn has a delicious, creamy-sweet flavor and reliable disease resistance. It matures in 70 to 80 days and is a backyard favorite year after year.

Whether you’re after early harvests, ornamental flair, or rich flavor, these varieties are sure to bring success and satisfaction to your summer corn patch!

Final Thoughts: Choose Corn That Suits Your Garden and Table

Selecting a corn variety is about balancing flavor, growing conditions, and how you plan to enjoy it. Whether you crave the nostalgic taste of standard heirlooms, the flexibility of sugary-enhanced hybrids, or the intense sweetness of supersweets, there’s a perfect variety for your garden.

In my experience, planting multiple types in succession ensures a longer harvest and a variety of flavors. Just remember to space out plantings of different types to avoid cross-pollination—and always plant in blocks, not rows, to maximize pollination and yield.

With the right variety and a few smart growing tips, your corn patch will be one of the highlights of your summer garden.