Organic Astarac White Sweetcorn - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds seeds

'Blanc d’Astarac' sweet corn is an heirloom variety. It was traditionally used for feeding geese and ducks, but the white kernels have such a delicate flavour that they are perfectly suitable for making popcorn or polenta. This semi-early variety is particularly drought-resistant. Sow in May and harvest from August to October.

Sweet corn (Zea mays), also known as pole corn or sugar corn, is a form of maize with an exceptionally high sugar content due to a naturally occurring genetic mutation. It belongs to the Gramineae family alongside wheat, barley and rice. It is highly nutritious, containing more protein and five times more fibre than rice. It is also an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin C, minerals and trace elements. It has a low glycemic index.

Sweet corn likes deep, light, cool soil rich in organic matter. It is a heat-loving plant that needs plenty of sunshine to grow. Sweet corn can be used to create attractive borders around your vegetable garden and individual plots while providing valuable shade for vegetables such as lettuces or cabbages.

Harvesting: Sweet corn is harvested 80 to 120 days after sowing, depending on the sunshine and water it has received. The ears are ready to be picked when the silks turn brown, and the kernels are well-developed. Check for ripeness by piercing a kernel with your fingernail - it should be tender and milky. When harvested too late, the sugars become starch and skin tough.

Storing: After harvesting, remove the green husk that is wrapped around the ear. Use quickly—the fresher, the better! Sweet corn can also be cooked, frozen, or preserved in jars for later use.

Good to know: Traditionally, maize crops were grown alongside squash and bean plants in Central and South America in a system known as Milpa agriculture. Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, squash plants act as ground cover, and maize plants provide support for the beans to scramble up. Start by sowing your maize plants. When they are about 10 cm tall, sow two bean and two squash seeds around each young plant.