- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 65–80 days
Family: Poaceae
Type: Sugary type (SU) (Learn More)
Native: Americas
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 5' tall
Variety Info: 7" long ears with kernels in yellows, reds, purples, blues, and white. 'Painted Hill' is open-pollinated. Kernel color is pale at the fresh-eating stage. Darker colors develop as ears dry for colorful and unique ornamental corn.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F; ideally 65°–90°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended; roots sensitive to transplanting. Best results occur when seedlings are transplanted less than 2 weeks old.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: 1" –1 ½"
Seed Spacing: A group of 2 seeds every 12"
Row Spacing: 24"–36"
Thinning: When 4" tall, thin to 1 every 12"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Sweet corn is ready about 3 weeks after the silks appear. Harvest when the silks are brown, but not dried, and the husks are dark green; ears should be plump, and rounded rather than pointed at the tip. To test for ripeness, gently pull back the husk and pop a kernel; the liquid should be whitish; if it is still clear, ears are not quite ready.
- Benjamin D.GA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/27/25Good Product.
Germination and Harvesting was smooth. No too much work needed to grow the product. Easy to care for and doesn't need too much work to grow properly. Buying again for next growing season.
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? In Ground - Leslie N.ID, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/26/25It made mature ears!
I live in zone 4 and have a hard time with corn maturing before frost. I planted this because it said 85 days. It made ears. We ate some, dried others, and I will plant it again.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? In GroundBIBotanical Interests9/29/25Hey Leslie N.,
What a fantastic review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your Painted Hill Sweet Corn Seeds finally gave you that corn success you've been hoping for in zone 4 - there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of beating that frost deadline!
Your experience with corn struggling to mature before frost is so relatable for northern gardeners! Zone 4 growing seasons can be such a challenge when you're trying to grow corn, and finding varieties that can actually deliver mature ears in that shorter window is like discovering garden gold. The fact that your Painted Hill corn powered through and reached full maturity in that 85-day timeframe really shows what a reliable, fast-maturing variety this is.
We love that you got to enjoy the best of both worlds - fresh eating AND dried corn for storage! There's something so satisfying about a harvest that's versatile enough to give you immediate enjoyment plus something to preserve for later. And the fact that you're already planning to plant it again next season tells us everything we need to know about how well these performed for you.
Your success with getting mature ears in zone 4 will be so encouraging for other northern gardeners who've struggled with corn varieties that just can't beat the frost! Painted Hill's dependable timing combined with great flavor makes it such a winner for challenging growing zones.
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Kahlil H.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars3/23/255 Stars
All seeds terminated and is still thriving.
- Roger P.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/19/245 Stars
It is winter now, will plant in spring
- Lucas B.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/15/245 Stars
Exactly what I was hoping for