Reids Yellow Dent Corn

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

Reids Yellow Dent Corn is an heirloom, open-pollinated field corn variety that was developed in Illinois in the mid 1800s. This variety is known for its solid genetics as it is consistently true to variety. Plants produce bountiful harvests of large ears with complete ear coverage. As with most field corn varieties, Reids Yellow Dent is especially drought tolerant and widely-adaptable.

Ears are large and can average 1.5 lbs each. Kernels have a deep yellow coloration with a slight reddish tinge. Each ear will contain 16-22 tightly-spaced rows of kernels. This is a great variety for grinding into corn meal for making your favorite cornbread, corn muffins or batter for frying.

Reids Yellow Dent Corn 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 first frost. Succession planting is recommended with at least two plantings, one in early spring and one in late summer/early fall. Corn ear worm 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 Reids Yellow Dent 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, a 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 absence of kernels on the cobs.

Reids Yellow Dent Corn 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: 85/110

Disease Resistance: None