Species Name: Zea mays var. saccharata

Common Name: Sweet Corn 'Balinese'

Family: Poaceae

Origin

The first recorded heirloom sweet corn cultivar was bred by Iroquois Native Americans and traded with European settlers in 1779.  The origins of this heirloom sweet corn variety 'Balinese' are unknown. 

Culinary Uses

Delicious grilled, roasted or steamed, the pale yellow cobs of Balinese sweet corn are sweet and juicy.  Pick when young for best flavour and eat the same day as you pick them otherwise sugars in the kernels will quickly convert to starches and the cobs will be less sweet.  

Growing Tips

Corn grows rapidly and is a heavy feeder so be sure to add lots of compost and well rotted manure to the soil prior to sowing.  Plant corn together in blocks to aid wind pollination between plants.  Water regularly.  Keep an eye out for corn earworm caterpillars, they lay small white eggs on the corn tassels which can be removed by hand.  Planting beneficial flowers around corn patches will attract insect predators that can help to reduce the number of corn earworm caterpillars attacking your cobs.  Balinese heirloom corn produces two cobs per plants on large stalks to 2m tall.  Corn cobs are ready to pick when the tassels have browned off and the cobs have filled well.

When To Sow

Plant Balinese sweet corn seed from October to January in temperate regions of Australia, from August to March in the subtropics or any time of the year in tropical areas of Australia.

How To Sow

Sow Balinese sweet corn seeds 2cm deep spacing plants about 50cm apart.  Choose a planting site that receives full sun.

Germination Time

Sweet corn seeds take between 4 and 12 days to germinate after sowing.

Harvest Time

Balinese sweet corn takes 11 to 13 weeks to produce cobs.