Country Gentleman Sweet Corn (White Shoepeg)

Country Gentleman Sweet Corn, also known as "White Shoepeg Corn" is famous in the south for its superb sweetness and its charming appearance! This heirloom, open-pollinated variety features 8-10 inch cobs with large, juicy unevenly packed tiny kernels with a creamy texture. The small kernels are perfect for fresh eating, freezing, or canning, adding versatility to your harvest. With its deep sweetness and creamy texture, it’s a delicious addition to any summer meal. A very fun corn to grill and roast, or add to salads and corn sides. The Country Gentleman Sweet Corn also offers great potential for crop rotation and adds aesthetic appeal to gardens with its tall, robust stalks and sweet, fragrant smell.

Corn is one of the plants grown in the traditional Native American vegetable technique called the Three Sisters. The other two plants in the Three Sisters are beans and squash, and each has its role in the companion planting tradition. Corn serves as a support for the vining beans. Squash served as a ground cover, preventing weeds from growing. Beans provided natural fertilizer for all.

Also Known As: Shoepeg Corn, Country Gentleman Corn, Shoe Peg Sweet Corn, Country Gentleman Corn, White Shoepeg Corn, White Country Gentleman Corn, Old Fashioned Sweet Corn, Open-Pollinated Heirloom Shoepeg Corn, Sweet Shoepeg Corn, Sugar Corn, Pole Corn, Maize, Maise.

Plant Name:	Sweet Corn, Country Gentleman
Latin Name:	Zea mays
Days to Germinate:	7-14
Days to Harvest:	93
Plant Height:	6 -12 Feet
Spread:	12 - 18 inches
Growth Habit:	Upright
USDA Zones:	2-11
Lifespan:	Annual
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Corn grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 15 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

For small gardens, corn is best planted in square blocks instead of long rows to improve cross-pollination between corn stalks.

Planting:

Corn are best direct-sown because they often don’t transplant well. Plant corn outdoors in spring when soil temperatures warm to at least 65F (treated corn can be planted when the soil is at least 55F). To plant, make holes 2 inches deep and spaced 8 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 1 seed per hole. Plant 2-3 seeds if choosing to thin to the strongest plant. When thinning, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting.

Planting Depth:	2 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	8 inches
Between-Row Spacing:	15 inches

Care During the Season:

Watering: Keep corn plants watered, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

A good rule of thumb is to water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once corn plants reach 4-6 inches tall, you may optionally apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. A second round of nitrogen-rich fertilizer can be applied to plants when they reach 12-18 inches tall. Then a final round of nitrogen-rich fertilizer can be applied during the tasseling stage, just before ears silks emerge. Read and follow fertilizer instructions for best application. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Sweet corn is usually ready for harvest about 3 weeks after tassels, or male flowers, develop at the top of corn plants. The corn ears are ripe and heady to harvest when the juices from the kernels are milky white, the silks on the ears have turned dark brown, the ears are firm, and the kernels on the tips of the unhusked ears are plump and milky. If the juices from kernels are watery, the ears are not yet ready. Corns ears may be overripe if the kernels are chewy and pasty like dough (starchy). To harvest sweet corn ears, hold the stalk below the ear and twist the tip of the ear toward the ground until it breaks off. Harvest sweet corn in a timely manner since the quality can change quickly. Keep corn in the husks and refrigerated for best storage.