How To Grow Popcorn

Popcorn is a popular low calorie snack andfood. People take microwave popcorn bags to work and school. Popcorn of the Month Clubs abound on the Internet. Passersby get popcorn from gourmet popcorn stores and popcorn stands. Who hasn’t gotten a tin of popcorn at Christmas? Popcorn is high in fiber and low inand calories.

You can grow your own popcorn. You can order popcorn seeds from online or mail order seed catalogs. You can order hulless popcorn seeds and colorful ornamental varieties of popcorn seeds. Popcorn requires full sun and good soil with good drainage. Plant popcorn in the spring. It should be ready to harvest in 90 - 110 days.

After the last frost date in your area plant the popcorn in rows that are spaced two to three feet from each other. Plant dwarf popcorn seeds two inches deep and four inches apart. Plant larger popcorn varieties eight to ten inches apart.

If you have sweet corn, the popcorn should be at least 500 feet away from the sweet corn so there’s no cross pollination between them. Put three inches of mulch around the popcorn plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds. Water the popcorn regularly.

Some signs the popcorn is ready to harvest are the husks getting dry and the cornsilk turning darker. When the popcorn kernels are hard and dry it is time to harvest the popcorn. You can test the popcorn by popping it. Put some oil in a pot, enough to cover the bottom of the pot. Put some popcorn kernels in the oil and heat. If most of the popcorn kernels pop the popcorn is ready to be harvested.

You are ready to dry the popcorn. Pick the popcorn by the cob and peel the husks back. You can tie the popcorn ears together by the husks and hang them in a dry ventilated place to dry or lay them out on a screen. The popcorn should be dry in one to two weeks.   

When the popcorn is dry rub the popcorn ears together over a container. Then store the popcorn in a closed container.

If the popcorn is not popping well it may be too dry. You can remedy this by adding a tablespoon of water per quart of popcorn. Stir the popcorn. If it is still too dry a few days later try adding more water until the popcorn is popping again. 

The Popcorn Cookbook has free popcorn recipes online at PopCB.com. You’ll also find free gourmet popcorn recipes at PopcornPopperStore.com.