Botanical Interests, Inc. - Robust Pop R400MR Popcorn Corn Seeds

Once only commercially available, this type of popping corn is now available to the home gardener! 'Robust Pop R400MR' produces large, round popped kernels sturdy enough to hold a coating and stay in one piece, unlike the more common 'butterfly'-shaped popcorn. This is also the type of popcorn found in the popular Cracker Jacks®. Grow it in your backyard to make kettle corn, caramel corn, popcorn balls, or to top with seasonings.

Days to Maturity: 95–100 days

Family: Poaceae

Type: Flint Corn 

Native: Americas

Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual

Exposure: Full sun

Plant Dimensions: 6'–7' tall

Variety Info: 7"–8" ears with yellow kernels that dry to a rich orange color. It has pearl shaped kernels and about 80% of them will have a round, mushroom shape when popped. Tolerant to Grass's wilt disease.

Attributes: Goss's Wilt Resistant, Frost Sensitive

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"

Harvesting: Let the ears dry on the stalks. The kernels are ready for harvest when they are hard and you can no longer leave a mark on them with your fingernail. Before the first fall frost, give each ear a twist until it breaks off. Peel back the husks, then hang the ears in a cool, dark, dry place for 4 to 6 weeks to cure. This is important to prevent mold and to dry to the optimal moisture percentage for popping. (In a perfect popcorn world, that would be 13½–14%.) After that, the cobs are ready for popping or storing. To strip off cured kernels, twist the cobs back and forth to loosen them (gloves are recommended).