Lancaster Sure Crop Corn Seeds

Developed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by Isaac Hershey and later by his son Noah, Lancaster Sure Crop was perfected the late 1800s. Over the years, many varieties were crossed to create a dent corn that matures early, is disease-resistant, easy to harvest and uniform. The father and son duo finally released their corn variety to the seed market in 1910.

Ears of the Lancaster Sure Crop corn are longer than most field corns you will find, growing to an impressive 10-12’’ long. The stalks are sturdy with a strong root system, providing an exceptional resistance to strong winds and drought. The plants grow to an impressive 10-12 feet high, with heavy, leafy foliage. The plants are very tall, producing excellent yields of long, narrow ears.

Dent corn is mostly used as a silo corn to produce ethanol, as feed for livestock and for making sweetener. Dent corn is usually dry milled when for human consumption, turning into a flour called masa or corn meal. It is the main ingredient for making tortilla chips and other popular snack foods, using either white or yellow dent corn. Lancaster Sure Crop is a yellow dent corn most popular in the eastern part of the Corn Belt in the USA, and many modern hybrids trace part of their heritage back to this variety. Lancaster Sure Crop is also used extensively in the deep south, for making various recipes, like their famous corn bread.

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

It just wouldn’t be summer without enjoying fresh corn on the cob as often as possible. On top of being a beloved symbol of summer, corn can be popped, fashioned into festive decorations or used as animal feed.

It is advantageous to plant corn early because of its need for a long growing season. But, it will not fare well by being started indoors, transplanted or sown into cold soil. Wait until 2 weeks after the last frost to sow seed outdoors or when soil temperatures reach at least 16°C. Plant seeds 2 cm deep, 15 cm apart in rows 75-90 cm apart and water well.

Corn is a very heavy feeder of nutrients and water. If possible, plan ahead the fall prior and prepare the bed by mixing in a hefty amount of compost.

When plants reach 8-10 cm tall, thin them out to a distance of 20-30 cm. Corn has shallow roots, so mulch, weed carefully and water well.

About 2 cm of water/week should suffice. Give more in times of excessive heat or drought. An application of high-nitrogen fertilizer a couple times throughout the season will appreciably accelerate growth.

It is dependent on variety, but corn may take up to 100 days to mature. Warmer air will ripen ears faster. Pay attention to the tips of the ears, they will become more rounded when it’s time to pick. Other good indications of readiness are milky kernels and browning silk. When they reach this point, do not wait to harvest. Pull down on the ears and twist to remove from the stalk. If it is corn you plan on eating, prepare it immediately for consumption or preservation.

QUICK FACTS

- Corn is a cereal grain first domesticated in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Imported into Europe by the navigator Christopher Columbus, corn quickly became a staple food in many parts of the world.

- To prevent cross-pollination from altering crop, plant at least 100 meters from other corn varieties or stagger planting by 20 days. Plant in blocks of at least four rows for proper pollination. 

- Corn seeds will remain viable for 2 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.