Plant Profile: Sugar Pearl Sweet Corn Hybrid

Sugar Pearl is an early producing hybrid white sweet corn. As the name suggests it is pearly white and sugary sweet.

Stalks attain a height of about 5 to 6 feet and yield ears of 7 – 7.5 inch pearly white sweet corn. It is a relatively trouble-free variety of corn suitable for gardeners with short growing seasons.

It germinates in cooler soil than many other cultivars, soil temperatures as low as 55 F.

Sugar Pearl retains its flavor longer than most varieties, up to two weeks from maturity before the flavor begins to wane.

It is best harvested when kernels are completely formed, which is roughly 20 days after the first strands of silk appear.

It takes 70 – 75 days to mature.

Corn Should be planted in blocks as opposed to rows and should not be planted near other varieties of Corn [See – Isolating Corn.] as cross-pollination tends to produce poor tasting starchy corn.

Sugar Pearl, as per some suppliers does not need to be isolated as other varieties do – this is just fine for the Sugar Pearl, but not necessarily the other variety.

Sugar Pearl 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

Sugar Pearl Corn Growing Requirements and Facts

  • Sowing depth Aprox. 1.5 – 2 inches
  • Germination 6 to 8 days
  • Maturity at 70 – 75 days.
  • Color – White
  • Seed Spacing – 8 to 10 inches apart.
  • Row spacing – 3 – 3.5 feet
  • USDA Hardiness Zones 3- 11
  • Plant Size 5 – 6 Feet Tall
  • Ear Size – 7 – 7.5 Inches Long
  • Full Sun
  • Average Yields per Sq. Footage – Anticipate 1 – 3 Ears per Stalk.

Getting Started Growing Sugar Pearl Sweet Corn

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 somewhere it will provide shade to plants that can not tolerate full sunlight.