Evaluation of Sweet Corn Varieties at Two Grower Locations in Ohio

Robert J. Precheur, Jim Doran, David Schacht, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Grower Cooperators: New Albany, OH, Canal Winchester, OH.

Sweet Corn is Ohio's number one fresh market vegetable with between 15,000 to 17,000 acres planted depending on the year. Ohio ranks 6^th in fresh market sweet corn production in the US. Sweet corn is produced throughout OH, in the southeast along the Ohio River, in many counties around Cincinnati, and also throughout central and northern OH.

Objectives

To identify sweet corn cultivars with good emergence, high marketable yield and excellent quality under OH growing conditions.

Methods

SE varieties were planted on 5 May 10 June in Canal Winchester. At New Albany, SE varieties were planted on May 13, 2009. Three bi-color and 1 white SH2 varieties were planted on 19 May 2009 and 2 small plots on 10 June in Canal Winchester. In New Albany, five SH2 varieties were planted on 20 May. Plots consisted of either: 4, 6 or 8 row blocks, 30 in apart and approximately 500 or 1000 ft long depending on location. In row spacing averaged 9 inches in Canal Winchester and 11 inches in New Albany. The middle two rows (total 20 linear feet) at three random locations in the block were used for yield data. Data collected included early plant vigor, plant and ear characteristics, and marketable yield. Sweetness was determined by a purely subjective evaluation of raw eating quality. Pictures of the varieties are at the end of this report and will be available at the VegNet website: http://vegnet.osu.edu

Results

Frosty, a white SE, had good yield and appearance. Flavor generally averages from medium to good. A small plot of HMX 6358 was a early producer of 6.2 inch ears of medium to good quality.

Maturity for the sh2’s were either on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule as temperatures warmed up in the summer. Yields were very good and the highest yielding bicolor sh2’s were: BSS0982 and Mirai 350BC but had considerable yield reduction at New Albany due to poor stand establishment because of weather problems. Mirai 71384, white Sh2, had excellent eating quality coming in early at 73 days.

SE Varieties ( White) Sh2 Bi-color

Sh2 WHITE	Sh2 YELLOW