Variety field guide
What to expect from Ohio Blue Dent corn Seeds
Ohio Blue Dent corn seeds grow into upright/erect plants reaching 97–120 in and producing ears whose size varies with the maintained seed lot and growing conditions.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Ohio Blue Dent corn seeds grow into upright/erect plants reaching 97–120 in and producing ears whose size varies with the maintained seed lot and growing conditions. The blue kernels are suited to block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Ohio Blue produces blue dry grain intended for milling and other mature-grain uses.
About Ohio Blue
Ohio Blue is an annual dent corn with blue color, 97–120 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Varies with the maintained seed lot and growing conditions. Botanically it is Zea mays L. Maturity or first bloom: 100-109 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 70–85 °F. Best for block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. A dry-grain corn suited to cornmeal and other milled preparations; flavor depends on harvest, drying, storage, and milling.
History and provenance
Ohio Blue is an open-pollinated blue-grain population developed at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center of Ohio State University. The peer-reviewed release record identifies Ned's Blue and Blue Clarage in its parentage and describes selection for blue grain together with agronomic performance. The population was released as a modern breeding line for growers interested in blue dry grain and open-pollinated seed saving. Its blue color and dry-grain use belong to that release record; culinary quality still depends on harvest timing, drying, storage, and milling. That breeding record is the basis for the variety's modern history, rather than generalized claims of ancient or tribal origin.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Zea mays L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 100-109 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 97–120 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 Ohio Blue from seed
How to grow Ohio Blue Dent 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 Ohio Blue 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 100-109 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Ohio Blue is best for block planting, dependable pollination, dry or fresh harvest, and seed saving. Harvest form or size: Varies with the maintained seed lot and growing conditions. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Blue. A dry-grain corn suited to cornmeal and other milled preparations; flavor depends on harvest, drying, storage, and milling.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Ohio Blue 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
Ohio Blue 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 Ohio Blue ready?
100-109 Days from direct sowing to dry seed or fully mature harvest
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 97–120 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. A dry-grain corn suited to cornmeal and other milled preparations; flavor depends on harvest, drying, storage, and milling.
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:20 seeds
