Japanese Hulless Popcorn

Check out our Corn Growing Guide to learn more about how to grow corn in your garden.

Japanese Hulless Popcorn is an heirloom, open-pollinated popcorn variety that pops with no hard centers -- hence the name "hulless." Once known as "Australian Hulless Popcorn," this variety produces high yields of white corn on plants that reach 4-5' tall. Each plant will produce 3-4 ears per stalk with each ear averaging 4" long.

Kernels are a light-yellow to white color and the corn pops pure white. This is one of the most tender popcorn varieties as it is fiber-free and very tasty. This is a great garden crop to grow with children because they can experience the rewards at harvest. And who doesn't love fresh popcorn?

Japanese Hulless Popcorn should be planted in the spring after the last frost date. Corn can be grown throughout the warmer months up until fall, as long as time is permitted for harvest before the first frost. Succession planting is recommended with at least two plantings, one in early spring and one in late summer/early fall. Corn earworm pressure will be greater in the warmer months, but this can be alleviated by applying spinosad to silks and tassels once they appear.

We recommend planting Japanese Hulless Popcorn using a walk-behind planter like our Hoss Garden Seeder. Once plants emerge, thin plants to 8-12" depending on adequate irrigation. If drip irrigation is used, in-row spacing may be as close as 8". If water is scarce, the wider in-row spacing will be necessary. For pollination purposes, corn should be planted in a square plot with rows on 30-36" spacing. Planting a few long rows will result in poor germination and the absence of kernels on the cobs.

Japenese Hulless Popcorn Planting Information

Planting Method: direct seed

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1"

Seed Spacing: 8-12"

Row Spacing: 30-36"

Days to Maturity: 85

Disease Resistance: None