Stowell's Evergreen Corn
Best heirloom choice for gardeners seeking long-lasting, old-fashioned sweet corn.
Embrace classic gardening with Stowell's Evergreen Corn, a treasured heirloom variety dating back to the mid-1800s. This open-pollinated corn lives up to its name by holding its sweet, old-fashioned flavor longer in the field. Plants grow tall, producing 8-inch ears with 16-18 rows of tender, creamy white kernels. It matures in 80 to 100 days and is best planted in blocks for optimal wind pollination, offering authentic, time-tested sweetness for your garden.
$9.35
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
3136
/ 5871
#3136 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-12%
Below average
Botanical Name
Zea mays
/ Zea mays
Who it's for
- Heirloom enthusiasts seeking traditional, rich corn flavor
- Busy gardeners needing a flexible, forgiving harvest window
- Homesteaders focused on canning and long-term food storage
Who should skip it
- Short-season growers in cooler northern climates
- Fans of modern, ultra-sweet hybrid corn varieties
- Urban gardeners with limited space for isolation zones
Performance breakdown
Flavor Longevity
Stays sweet in the field far longer than modern hybrid varieties.
Heirloom Authenticity
A true mid-1800s classic perfect for traditional garden enthusiasts.
Seed Saving Potential
Open-pollinated genetics allow for reliable seed collection season after season.
Yield Consistency
Produces reliable, uniform 8-inch ears when planted in proper blocks.
Germination Reliability
Strong baseline germination rates ensure a successful start for home growers.
Cultivation Difficulty
Requires careful block planting and spacing to ensure proper wind pollination.
Key Specs
Botanical Name
Zea mays
Days to Maturity
80-100 days
Seed Depth
1–2 inches
Seed Spacing
4 inches
Row Spacing
24–30 inches
Thin Plants to
8–12 inches
Minimum Germination Rate
80%
Seed Life
1 year
Features
- Heirloom variety with a rich history
- Maintains fresh, sweet taste longer
- Produces tender, creamy white kernels
- Open-pollinated for seed saving
- Reliable for authentic corn flavor
- Tall plant growth habit
- Suitable for block planting
What customers say
The sentiment centers on the exceptional quality and reliable performance of this heirloom variety. Gardeners consistently celebrate the outstanding, old fashioned sweet flavor and tender texture, confirming its status as a superior white corn. Furthermore, reviews frequently mention the seed's excellent germination rate and the plant's vigorous growth, making it a dependable choice for high yields. This combination of nostalgic taste and robust reliability solidifies its strong value proposition for home growers.
Know before you buy
Being open-pollinated means the plants are pollinated naturally by wind or insects, and the seeds you harvest will grow true to the parent plant. This allows you to save seeds from your harvest to replant in future seasons, unlike hybrid varieties.
Corn is wind-pollinated, and planting in blocks—rather than a single long row—ensures that pollen from the tassels falls effectively onto the silks of neighboring ears. This method significantly improves kernel development and ensures you get full, well-filled ears.
This variety typically matures in 80 to 100 days. Because it is an heirloom, the harvest window is slightly more flexible, as the kernels maintain their tender, sweet quality in the field longer than many modern varieties.
You should sow seeds 4 inches apart and eventually thin the seedlings to 8–12 inches apart. Rows should be spaced 24–30 inches apart to provide the tall plants with adequate airflow and root space.
Yes, because this is an open-pollinated heirloom, you can save the seeds from your harvest. Just ensure the corn is fully mature and dried properly before storing the seeds in a cool, dry place.
Stowell's Evergreen thrives in full sun with moderate, consistent watering. It is an annual vegetable that performs best when planted in fertile, well-draining soil once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
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