Growing Popcorn: How to Plant, Harvest, and Pop Your Own

How to Grow Popcorn

Planting Popcorn Seeds

Plant seed popcorn in four or five short rows about 36 inches apart to ensure pollination. 

Plant corn seeds one inch deep and six inches apart.

Learn more about planting corn.

Caring for Popcorn Plants

When the plants are five inches tall, thin them to 12 inches apart.

Fertilize lightly in midsummer just before a rain to give them an added boost.

When the stalks are about knee-high, hill them up six inches by scraping soil from between the rows. Hilling adds nutrients and support to the growing plants.

When and How to Harvest Popcorn

Let the husks that cover the ears turn brown before harvesting. If you can press your thumbnail into a kernel, it’s not ripe yet.

Harvest all ears before the first hard frost. Shuck the ears and let them dry for a few weeks, then shell the kernels and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Now, just pop and enjoy! A whole quart of popcorn has less than 100 calories, so even waist watchers can afford a dribble of melted butter.

The Science of Popping Corn

What causes these tiny grains to pop and expand to 30 or 40 times their original size?

• Popcorn kernels have a hard outer shell that surrounds a large amount of starch with a moist central germ.
• When the kernel is heated, the moisture turns to steam, which softens the starch, causing it to expand and press against the inside of the shell.
• When the pressure is great enough, BOOM!—the kernel explodes and literally turns inside out.

Popcorn’s Place in History

Historians doubt that turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving dinner, but they know that popcorn was there. Quandequina, the brother of Chief Massasoit, brought a deerskin sack filled with popcorn to the feast. 

Popcorn, already a staple for Native Americans, became an important food for the colonists. It stored well and could be popped fresh all winter long to serve with meat, float on soups, and mix with maple syrup for popcorn balls.

Learn more about corn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is popcorn different from sweet corn?

Yes. Popcorn is a specific type of corn with a hard outer shell and a starchy interior that allows it to pop when heated. Sweet corn has a higher sugar content and will not pop.

How long does it take to grow popcorn?

Popcorn typically takes 90 to 120 days to mature, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

When is popcorn ready to harvest?

Popcorn is ready to harvest when the husks turn brown and dry, and the kernels are hard. If you can dent a kernel with your thumbnail, it needs more time to mature.

Do you have to dry popcorn before popping it?

Yes. After harvesting, popcorn ears should be dried for several weeks. Proper drying allows the kernels to reach the moisture level needed to pop well.

Why didn’t my popcorn pop?

Popcorn may not pop if the kernels are too dry or too moist, improperly stored, or harvested before fully maturing.

Have you ever grown your own popcorn? Share your favorite variety or popping tips below!