How to Grow Popcorn

Growing Popcorn

• 1

  Buy popcorn seeds. Many cultivars are available and can easily be found in seed catalogs, both online and mail order.

• 2

  Select your garden site carefully. Your popcorn needs to be planted in an area with full sun and good drainage.

• 3

  Plant the popcorn. Wait until after the last frost date in your area, then plant the seeds two inches deep and four inches apart, if you are growing a dwarf type, or eight to 10 inches apart if you are growing a larger type.

• 4

  Space the rows two to three feet apart. Keep your popcorn rows at least 500 feet away from your sweet corn to avoid cross-pollination.

• 5

  Water your popcorn garden frequently and keep the weeds down for best results.

Harvesting and Storing Popcorn

• 6

  Harvest your popcorn when the kernels are hard and dry.

• 7

  Test the popcorn to see if it is ready. Heat half an inch of oil in a pan on the stove and pop a few kernels. If most of them pop, your popcorn is ready to harvest.

• 8

  Pick the popcorn, peel the husks back and tie the ears together by the husks. Hang the bunches of ears in a dry, airy place to cure for another week or two.

• 9

  Flake off the kernels by rubbing two ears together and store the kernels in a covered jar in a cool place.