Bloody Butcher Corn is a variety of “Dent Corn”, Not sweet corn. Dent Corn has a very high starch content and is used primarily as a base ingredient in corn flour, cornmeal, and so forth.
It can still be eaten fresh but you have to catch it an opportune time, and there is a very short window of only a few days.
Once the silk begins to darken and you can pierce a kernel with your finger nail and see its juices flow out – it’s ready. If you miss the window of opportunity it is still good for roasting or cracking but doesn’t taste very good fresh. Mature ears can also be dried for fall decorations.
Bloody Butcher produces novel blood red to maroon kernels on large 10 – 12 inch ears. The stalks generally attain a height of 10 – 12 feet sometimes as short as 8 feet. Each stalk generally produces 2 ears, but don’t be disappointed or surprised if you get a tad more or a tad less.
Don’t drown them, just be certain they receive adequate water. Drought will produce unpalatable ears of corn, excessive water can produce root rot and other issues.
Corn Should be planted in blocks as opposed to rows and should not be planted near other varieties of Corn [See – Isolating Sweet Corn.]
Cross pollination tends to produce poor tasting starchy corn.
Bloody Butcher Corn can be seeded directly into the soil, or it can also be started indoors and later transplanted. Whichever mode you choose, Plant it in blocks, at least four rows wide, for proper pollination and well-filled ears
Sowing depth Aprox. 1.5 – 2 inches
Germination 8 to 20 days – dependent on seed stock, soil and climatic conditions
Maturity at 90 – 110 days. dependent on seed stock and soil conditions
Color – Red – Maroon
Seed Spacing – 6 to 8 inches apart.
Row spacing – 3 – 4 feet
USDA Hardiness Zones 3- 10
Plant Size 8 – 12 Feet Tall
Ear Size – 10 – 12 Inches Long
Full Sun
Average Yields per Sq. Footage – Anticipate 2 Ears per Stalk.
Corn has shallow roots, and uses a lot of nitrogen as well as trace elements. To help your crop get off to the best start possible, prepare the soil first with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Well rotted manure or compost is also helpful.
Plant in the northern side of the garden as corn stalks will deny sunlight to the rest of your garden crops ,you also might want to grow some where it will provide shade to plants that can not tolerate full sunlight.