Variety field guide
What to expect from Golden Bantam 8 Row Sweet corn Seeds
Golden Bantam 8 Row Sweet corn seeds grow into upright/erect plants reaching 73–96 in and producing 5.5–7.5 in ears; 8 kernel rows. The yellow kernels are suited to block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Golden Bantam 8 Row Sweet corn seeds grow into upright/erect plants reaching 73–96 in and producing 5.5–7.5 in ears; 8 kernel rows. The yellow kernels are suited to block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Golden Bantam 8 Row is classified as sweet corn with yellow harvest color with 5.5–7.5 in ears; 8 kernel rows, selected for fresh summer eating, blanching, freezing, and home-garden sweet corn harvests.
About Golden Bantam 8 Row
Golden Bantam 8 Row is an annual sweet corn with yellow color, 73–96 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: 5.5–7.5 in ears; 8 kernel rows. Botanically it is Zea mays L. Maturity or first bloom: 70-79 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 70–85 °F. Best for block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Golden Bantam 8 Row is a historic sweet corn variety treasured for its rich corn flavor, golden kernels, and dependable garden performance.
History and provenance
Golden Bantam became one of the best-known yellow sweet corns of the early twentieth century and helped establish yellow kernels as desirable in American fresh-market sweet corn. University and cultivar records document the compact eight-row ears, rich old-fashioned sweet-corn flavor, and long garden history. The named cultivar belongs to the later commercial and home-garden history of sweet corn, while maize itself was domesticated and diversified by Indigenous farmers in the Americas long before the cultivar was named. Golden Bantam 8 Row is a historic sweet corn variety treasured for its rich corn flavor, golden kernels, and dependable garden performance. For gardeners who value heritage crops, classic flavor, and reliable summer harvests, this sweet corn remains a timeless and rewarding choice. This variety fits within that long seedkeeping history, where kernel color, ear form, maturity, and field performance were preserved through careful selection over generations. Uses and Benefits: Golden Bantam Corn (Zea mays) is a classic heirloom variety known for its sweet, yellow kernels.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Zea mays L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 70-79 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 73–96 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 10 in between plants; 30 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Golden Bantam 8 Row from seed
How to grow Golden Bantam 8 Row Sweet corn
Botanical identity: Zea mays L. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 70–85 °F. Expected emergence: 7-10 Days. Direct sow after frost when the seed zone is warm; do not soak seed in cold or waterlogged soil
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 10 in apart with 30 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Plant Golden Bantam 8 Row in a block rather than one long row so wind-carried pollen reaches the silks. Keep the bed evenly watered from tasseling through ear fill, and protect mature ears from birds and mammals if seed saving. Expected emergence is 7-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 70-79 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Golden Bantam 8 Row is best for block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Harvest form or size: 5.5–7.5 in ears; 8 kernel rows. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Yellow. Golden Bantam 8 Row is a historic sweet corn variety treasured for its rich corn flavor, golden kernels, and dependable garden performance.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Golden Bantam 8 Row Select several healthy, true-to-type plants so the saved lot represents the variety rather than one unusually early or large individual. Corn is wind-pollinated and highly outcrossing. Grow a substantial population in a block rather than one long row, and isolate the seed crop from other corn by distance, flowering time, or controlled pollination. Mark representative plants before pollen shed and remove clear off-types before they contribute pollen. For seed, leave ears until husks are brown and kernels are hard. Harvest before prolonged wet weather or animal loss, remove husks, and dry ears with strong air circulation until kernels cannot be dented with a fingernail. Shell, screen, and winnow only after full dry-down. Label the crop, cultivar, lot, year, field, population size, isolation method, selected plants, and any unusual ears. Store fully dry seed cool, dark, and protected from moisture and rodents. Test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Golden Bantam 8 Row can be affected by poor pollination, corn earworm, armyworms, stalk lodging, smut, leaf diseases, birds, and rodents. Plant in a block, maintain even moisture at tasseling and silking, use balanced fertility, rotate crops, and inspect ears before storage. Uneven kernel fill usually points to pollen or silk stress rather than a seed-count problem.
Frequently asked questions
When is Golden Bantam 8 Row ready?
70-79 Days from direct sowing to fresh eating stage
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-10 Days near 70–85 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 73–96 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Best in an in-ground block large enough for dependable wind pollination; not recommended as a single container specimen.
How is it used?
Primary uses: block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Golden Bantam 8 Row is a historic sweet corn variety treasured for its rich corn flavor, golden kernels, and dependable garden performance.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:25 seeds
