Wapsie Valley Corn
Wapsie Valley Corn is an open-pollinated, heirloom, field corn variety that has been a staple in the Amish community for centuries. 85/110 days to maturity. Untreated. Zea mays.
Treatment: Untreated
Description
Check out our Corn Growing Guide to learn more about how to grow corn in your garden.
Wapsie Valley Corn dates back to the 1850s in Iowa and has been a staple in Amish communities for years. It is an open-pollinated, heirloom variety that is organically sourced. Wapsie Valley, named from the characteristic dent in each kernel, is high in protein and has great flavor when ground. This field corn produces 8-9" bicolor ears with copper red and yellow kernels. Once ground, the corn meal has a light yellow tent with red flakes. This is a great field corn for making corn meal for frying, cornbread, tortillas and more. Wapsie Valley Corn is highly adaptable to a wide-variety of growing conditions and produces huge stalks with well-formed ears.
Wapsie Valley 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 Wapsie Valley 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.
Wapsie Valley 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
