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If youve eaten Chinese food, youve probably come across baby corn before. Youve probably also thought: “is baby corn real corn?” How is baby corn made? Many people take a look at baby corn and assume it comes from a dwarf corn variety, but its actually exactly what it sounds like: immature corn cobs. So how do you grow baby corn? Keep reading to learn about growing baby corn in your own garden.
Baby corn is a delicious vegetable that adds crunch and visual appeal to stir-fries, salads, and more. While often found canned or jarred, fresh baby corn has a sweet, delicate flavor that’s hard to replicate with store-bought. Luckily, baby corn is easy and rewarding to grow at home. This complete guide will teach you how to grow and harvest your own baby corn.
What is Baby Corn?
Baby corn is simply immature corn harvested before the ears have had a chance to fully develop. Unlike mature corn, baby corn is picked only days after the first silks appear, when the ears are just 2-6 inches long. At this stage, the ears have not yet been pollinated, so baby corn is less sweet with a mild “corn” flavor and tender, crunchy texture.
Baby Corn Varieties
While you can harvest baby corn from any sweet corn or supersweet corn, there are also specific baby corn hybrids. These produce very small, slender ears on shorter plants with multiple stalks. Popular varieties include Baby Corn, Bonus, Minipop, and Snowbaby. Dwarf or container corn varieties also work well.
When to Plant
Baby corn needs warm soil and air to thrive, so wait until after the last spring frost date to sow seeds. Corn won’t tolerate cold conditions. Successive sowing every 2-3 weeks from late spring through midsummer ensures a steady harvest. In warm climates, fall sowing can provide a winter crop.
Where to Grow
Choose a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil Amend sandy soils with compost to improve moisture retention Work the top 6-12 inches of soil before planting. Shelter from wind helps prevent stalks from toppling over once ears develop.
Unlike full-size corn, baby corn can be grown in spacious containers on patios and balconies Dwarf or container varieties are ideal Use potting mix, and keep soil consistently moist. Move pots into partial shade during hot afternoons.
How to Plant Baby Corn
Sow seeds 1-2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Or scatter seeds across prepared soil for intensive cropping. Place corn inside a greenhouse or cold frame until sprouted to boost germination. Thin to 8-12 inches between plants once seedlings emerge.
Sprout seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before your last expected frost. Use biodegradable pots so roots won’t be disturbed at transplanting. Harden off seedlings, then transplant outdoors after weather warms. Take care not to damage shallow corn roots.
Caring for Baby Corn
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Water regularly, especially during dry spells, keeping soil consistently moist but not saturated. Corn has shallow roots. Mulch helps retain moisture.
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Apply balanced fertilizer when planting and again 3-4 weeks later. Too much nitrogen leads to leafy plants without ears.
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Weed carefully to avoid damaging corn’s shallow roots. Covering soil with mulch inhibits weeds.
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Support plants with stakes once ears develop if stalks seem unstable. Otherwise, corn needs little care as it grows quickly.
When Does Baby Corn Mature?
Check plants daily once the first silks appear, generally around 3-5 weeks after germination. Immature ears with fresh green husks and silks just protruding signal peak harvest time. Twist ears off the stalks by hand. Timely harvesting is key, as ears develop rapidly. Harvest every few days.
Harvesting Baby Corn
Use scissors or a knife to carefully peel back husks, exposing the small ears inside. Grasp the pale yellow silk and gently pull to remove it from the undeveloped kernels. Take care not to damage the slender cobs, which will be 2-6 inches long and about as thick as your pinky finger.
Storing the Harvest
Eat baby corn immediately after picking for best flavor and texture. Refrigerate uncooked ears in plastic bags up to 3 days. Blanch then freeze, pickle or can excess to enjoy year-round. Frozen baby corn lasts 8-12 months. Pickled or canned baby corn will keep 1 year.
Common Problems
Baby corn is less prone to insect pests thanks to its quick growth cycle. However, fungal diseases like rust, blight and mildew can be problematic in humid climates. Choose resistant hybrids when possible and avoid wetting foliage when watering. Good air circulation helps reduce disease risk. Rotate corn planting sites annually.
Uses for Baby Corn
The miniature ears are completely edible, including the small, immature kernels. simply remove husks and silks. Raw baby corn provides a nice crunch to salads, crudités and slaws. Blanch or steam 3-5 minutes until crisp-tender. Then add to stir-fries, sautés and more. Grilled baby corn makes a fun party snack or salad topper. Substitute for water chestnuts in Asian dishes.
Quick Summary of Growing Baby Corn:
- Grow from corn seeds after frost danger passes
- Harvest immature ears 2-6″ long before pollination
- Pick every few days for steady crop
- Eat fresh, pickle, can, freeze, or grill
- Tolerates partial shade and containers
- Warm weather crop, avoid cold temps
- Keep soil moist, fertilize monthly
- Susceptible to fungal diseases
With its quick growth cycle and delicate flavor, homegrown baby corn is a rewarding, trouble-free crop for gardeners. Follow these tips for a bountiful harvest of this fun-to-eat vegetable.
How does Baby Corn Grow?
Baby corn does not need to be sweet corn — it can be field, regular, or a super sweet variety. This is because the baby corn will be harvested before pollination, which is before any sugar has been stored in the kernels. Instead of sweetness, what counts is ear quality, small kernel size, straight rows, and tapered tips.
There are specific varieties of corn bred for baby corn production, many of which have shorter stalks or multiple stalks and yield as many as 20 ears of corn per plant.
What is Baby Corn?
We’ve all wondered about baby corn. If it is that diminutive and yet a perfect copy of a larger ear of corn, it stands to reason it came from a dwarf or miniature variety of corn. Or maybe not.
How is baby corn made? Baby corn, as mentioned above, is simply immature sweet corn. It is generally imported from east Asia and comes processed in jars or cans. In Asia, specific corn varieties are used to make baby corn, but it can be harvested from garden sweet corn as well.
How to grow Baby Corn in your back yard.
FAQ
Is baby corn easy to grow?
If you are lucky enough to have a patch of land in which to do a little gardening, baby corn is a relatively easy crop to handle—you don’t even have to worry about pollination if they’re all you’re after.
How do you grow tiny corn?
Seeds should be sown in fertile, well-draining soil about 4 inches (10 cm) apart in rows typically 30 to 36 inches (76-91 cm) apart. One way to grow and harvest baby corn is to harvest the lower ears for use as baby corn while allowing the upper ears to mature into full sized corn ears.
How many baby corn per plant?
Sweetcorn Minipop is the standard variety used for babycorn. It has a very tender pericarp which makes this an ideal variety for mini sweet corn. Best grown at high density, and harvested when cobs approximately 10cm in length. Each plant produces 5-6 cobs per plant.
Is baby corn different from regular corn?
Yes, baby corn is different from regular corn. While baby corn comes from the same plant as regular corn, it’s harvested very early in its development, before the ears have fully matured.