LOCUST GROVE—Among Virginia’s superstar commodities, sweet corn’s brief performance is deserving of its own series spinoff.
Customized tweaks to production techniques by innovative Virginia growers satisfy sweet corn fans with an earlier season premiere, with a finale extending into fall.
“Its peak is definitely in the summertime, but I know farmers who are stretching the season, trying to get sweet corn earlier or later than we would expect to see it,” said Stephanie Romelczyk, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Westmoreland County.
Growers have perfected the timing of staggered plantings, she said, while choosing seed varieties that thrive right on cue.
“Every week or couple of days, they’re putting in a new planting, so they have corn for a long period of time,” Romelczyk added.
Shoppers expect the first crop of sweet corn to debut before July 4 at Miller Farms Market in Spotsylvania County, handpicked every morning and piled into the store’s iconic antique corn wagon.
Ben Miller’s bicolor Bolt sweet corn was planted in the chill of late March. Seeds are planted in holes poked through black plastic. Sunshine heats the plastic and warms the soil, coaxing seeds into early germination.
He planted another half-acre five days later and will continue that practice through early August. With about 30 staggered plantings, there’s acreage in the ground that Miller hasn’t seen yet.
“We don’t want a sweet corn gap,” he said. “That corn wagon can’t be empty, so we need to be picking every day. We’ve developed a loyal sweet corn following over the past 15 years because of how we plant it and pick it. It’s always fresh. And people know that!”
Listed in order of appearance, Kickoff next joins the cast of planted varieties, followed by Signature, Rosie and ending with fan-favorite Kate for the crop’s extended season finale.
“She has a nice, full ear and exceptional taste,” Miller said. “Last year we were picking into November!”
Sweet corn’s summertime star power stretches to cooler climates in Southwest Virginia, where Jonathan Whitesides also developed special effects to mimic warmer conditions on his 60-acre crop in Washington County.
Seeds are planted in holes poked into plastic rows, which are then blanketed with canvas row covers. This accelerates the crop’s first appearance about one month earlier than usual, delighting his customer base at Whitesides Sweet Corn roadside operation.
This season’s crop premiered June 12, he said, followed by staggered plantings of customers’ favorite varieties.
“I’ve learned how to plan the plantings to have corn consistently throughout the whole season,” Whitesides said. “My customers really rely on consistency of locations, hours and fresh produce availability, so it’s my goal to operate like clockwork!”
Visit vagrown.vdacs.virginia.gov to find sweet corn growers near you.
