---
title: Yellow Dent Corn
created: 2026-05-24
updated: 2026-05-25
type: entity
tags: [zea-mays, heirloom, open-pollinated, chicken-friendly, goat-friendly]
sources: [raw/articles/seedvault-home-page.md]
---

# Yellow Dent Corn

## Overview
Classic heirloom field corn. High yields, drought tolerant. Versatile for cornmeal, flour, animal feed, silage. Grows 8-12 feet, 9" ears.

## Key Details
- **Category:** Zea Mays
- **Price:** $3.12
- **Variety Type:** Open-pollinated

## Growing Instructions

### Sowing
Direct sow after all frost, 65°F soil. Full sun, well-drained rich soil. Plant in blocks (not rows) for wind pollination.

### Germination
4-10 days

### Care
Consistently moist during germination, tasseling, ear development. Mulch for moisture. Weed carefully early (shallow roots). Monitor pests/disease.

### Harvest
Varies by use

## Soil & Conditions
- **pH:** 5.8-7.0, well-drained, rich organic matter. Heavy feeder.

## Seed Storage
- **Viability:** 1-2 years. Use fresh seeds for best germination. Store cool/dry.
- **Pre-treatment:** None required. Warm soil 65°F+.

## Yield
- **Per Plant:** 1-2 ears per plant
- **Harvest Season:** Late summer
- **Note:** Plant in blocks for wind pollination
Harvest ears at milk stage (squeeze kernel — milky juice). Dry husks 2-3 weeks, remove kernels, store in airtight container. Isolate ⅛ mile or stagger flowering.

## Pest & Disease
Corn earworm (Bt, pheromone traps), corn borers, cutworms, birds (netting at silk stage). Rotate with non-grasses.

## Harvest & Preservation
Fresh: pick at milk stage, eat within days. Dry: leave in husks for 2-3 weeks, shuck for cornmeal, animal feed, or storage.

## Companion Planting

### Good Companions
- **[[provider-green-bush-beans]], [[dark-green-zucchini-squash]]/[[jack-o-lantern-pumpkin]]** — Three Sisters method — corn provides structure

### Avoid Growing With
- **Tomatoes** — Both heavy feeders, attract earworm/tomato hornworm

### Part of: Three Sisters
- See [[companion-planting]] for full combination details

## Related
- [[seedvault-market]]
- [[grow-guides]]
- [[seed-catalog]]