The life work of Montana breeder Dave Christensen, Painted Mountain is one of the great farm-bred successes of our time. In a time when seed companies were breeding corn for warm, humid mid-west and east coast climates, Christensen set out to develop a more rugged, early maturing mountain corn to grow in Montana conditions. Starting from an initial cross of close to 70 native dry corns (some now extinct), the variety has been selected upon for nearly 50 years and pushed to the limit of what corn can withstand. His efforts gained the attention of North Korean agricultural ministers who brought him, along with 3 tons of seed, to Korea to work with agronomists and growers to potentially aid their country’s food crisis. It has been grown successfully from Siberia to South Africa. Plants are compact at 5’ and produce long slender ears (6-8”) with just an unbelievable spectrum of colors. If you can’t mature it you should rethink growing dry corn where you live. Great for cornmeal and we love it for making posole. Resilient, diverse, and adaptable, this is Mad Max corn...the one that will survive the coming climate crisis.
85 days. SN

Packet: 1oz (~100 seeds)

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Seeds can be sown late spring (May) and into early Summer. Direct seeding recommended.

Note: Corn prefers warmer ambient and soil temperatures (60F+), well-drained, light and loamy soils with a neutral to slightly acidic (6-6.8) pH, and ample water. Seeds may be sown every 3 weeks through early summer or stagger with different maturing varieties.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1-2" This will depend on soil type and moisture. Drier soils require deeper sowing.

SPACING:

2-3 seeds per linear foot, thinning to 8-12" between plants in rows 2-3' apart.
Smaller blocks of 4 rows versus one long row will ensure good pollination.

EMERGENCE:

5-14 days @ soil temp 60-65F

LIGHT:

Full sun is best!

FERTILITY:

Corn is a heavy feeder, especially of Nitrogen, and is thirsty, needing ample water, especially from tassel to harvest.

An addition of compost/high Nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial mid-season/knee-high.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Remember that corn prefers warm temperatures, lots of water, fertility, and space. Keep em weeded, and remember that they have shallow roots!

To prevent seed rot, sow seeds at soil temperatures 60F+ and do not overwater.
Dry corn and Popcorn seeds can germinate at slightly lower soil temperatures.

To avoid cross-pollination of Sweet and Supersweet varieties, you may stagger plantings, isolate by 25+', or choose varieties with different maturation dates.

Harvest Sweet corn when silk is brown/dry, and kernels are milky. Waiting too long will cause excess starchiness. Eat Sweet corn fresh!

Harvest Popcorn and Dry/Flour corn when the seed color is fully saturated and the seeds are hard and glossy. Then, cure in a well-ventilated, covered space.

Popcorn will only pop when a low enough moisture content (13-14.5%) is achieved.

Corn, 'Painted Mountain'