Variety field guide
What to expect from Silver Queen Sweet Corn
Silver Queen is a classic late-season sweet corn with creamy white kernels and an old-fashioned corn flavor.
Open the complete descriptionHide the complete descriptionVariety traits, flavor, garden use, and the complete description
Silver Queen is a classic late-season sweet corn with creamy white kernels and an old-fashioned corn flavor. Tall plants carry long ears for summer meals, fresh corn on the cob and freezing. This standard sugary type tastes best soon after picking, while the kernels are tender and their juice is milky. Give it a sunny, fertile bed with steady moisture, then have the cooking pot or refrigerator ready when the ears reach their best stage.
Minimum seeds per packet: 25 seeds.
Creamy white sweet corn, at its best freshly picked.
Variety and background
Silver Queen is white, standard sugary (su) sweet corn, not sugary-enhanced (se). It is an F1 hybrid.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Zea mays L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / harvest basis | About 88 days; harvest at the milk stage |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Germination | 7-10 days |
| Germination temperature | 70-85 F |
| Plant height / spread | 73–96 in |
| Habit | Upright/Erect |
| Plant spacing | 10 in |
| Row spacing | 30 in |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Pollination type | Hybrid (F1) |
Starting from seed
Direct sow after frost in warm soil, 1 in. deep. At 70-85 F allow 7-10 days. Space 10-12 in. apart, rows 30 in. apart, in a block of at least 4 short rows for pollination. Give sun, rich soil and steady water, especially at silking.
Planting and care
Direct sow after frost in warm soil, 1 in. deep. At 70-85 F allow 7-10 days. Space 10-12 in. apart, rows 30 in. apart, in a block of at least 4 short rows for pollination. Give sun, rich soil and steady water, especially at silking. Silver Queen is white, standard sugary (su) sweet corn, not sugary-enhanced (se). It is an F1 hybrid.
Harvest and use
Pick when silks brown and plump kernels release milky juice; chill quickly or cook the same day. Separate from other corn types by distance or flowering time to protect eating quality. This F1 hybrid will not come true from saved seed.
Saving seed
Saved seed may vary from the purchased selection. Silver Queen is white, standard sugary (su) sweet corn, not sugary-enhanced (se). It is an F1 hybrid. For reliable repetition, use seed of the identified supplier selection. When saving seed for observation, keep compatible flowering varieties separated, let seed reach full maturity, dry it thoroughly and label its origin and year.
Common problems
Silver Queen can be affected by poor pollination, corn earworm, armyworms, stalk lodging, smut, leaf diseases, birds, and rodents. Plant in a block, maintain even moisture at tasseling and silking, use balanced fertility, rotate crops, and inspect ears before storage. Uneven kernel fill usually points to pollen or silk stress rather than a seed-count problem.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes this selection?
Silver Queen is white, standard sugary (su) sweet corn, not sugary-enhanced (se). It is an F1 hybrid.
How should I start it?
Direct sow after frost in warm soil, 1 in. deep. At 70-85 F allow 7-10 days. Space 10-12 in. apart, rows 30 in. apart, in a block of at least 4 short rows for pollination. Give sun, rich soil and steady water, especially at silking.
When and how should I harvest?
Pick when silks brown and plump kernels release milky juice; chill quickly or cook the same day. Separate from other corn types by distance or flowering time to protect eating quality. This F1 hybrid will not come true from saved seed.
Can I save seed?
Saved seed may vary from the purchased selection. Silver Queen is white, standard sugary (su) sweet corn, not sugary-enhanced (se). It is an F1 hybrid. For reliable repetition, use seed of the identified supplier selection. When saving seed for observation, keep compatible flowering varieties separated, let seed reach full maturity, dry it thoroughly and label its origin and year.
