Free Shipping on Orders $35+

Login
Amazon American Express Apple Pay Diners Club Discover Meta Pay Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Venmo Visa
Guaranteed to Grow
Supports Family Farms
Heirloom

Howling Mob Heirloom Sweet Corn

Quick Facts:

  • Developed by C.D. Keller in early 1900's
  • Thick husks protect from ear worms
  • Great for planting in succession
  • Name after "mobs" of anxious buyers
  • 8" long ears with sweet white kernels

View full description

Quantity: Packet (50 Seeds)

shipping estimated time of arrival Get it between -

We ship to all areas of North America including the United States, its territories and outlying islands, and Canada. International orders may incur an additional charge to cover the handling of customs paperwork. Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt. Full warranty information can be found here.

Howling Mob Heirloom Sweet Corn

More about Howling Mob

Zea mays

Howling Mob is an open-pollinated sweet corn variety developed by C.D. Keller of Toledo, Ohio in the early 1900's.  Developed as a second early corn to compete with the later-season varieties, Howling Mob features thick husks that protect the ears from damage by ear worms that so often plague sweet corn later in the season.  Advertisements of the day boasted that Howling Mob afforded market growers the ability to plant in succession and have corn until frost.  The name Howling Mob alluded to the crowds of buyers that would gather, anxious to purchase the fresh sweet corn.  Plants grow approximately 5 feet tall, consistently producing two ears per stalk.  Ears average 14 rows around and 8 inches long, well-fill... More

Less

Zea mays

Howling Mob is an open-pollinated sweet corn variety developed by C.D. Keller of Toledo, Ohio in the early 1900's.  Developed as a second early corn to compete with the later-season varieties, Howling Mob features thick husks that protect the ears from damage by ear worms that so often plague sweet corn later in the season.  Advertisements of the day boasted that Howling Mob afforded market growers the ability to plant in succession and have corn until frost.  The name Howling Mob alluded to the crowds of buyers that would gather, anxious to purchase the fresh sweet corn.  Plants grow approximately 5 feet tall, consistently producing two ears per stalk.  Ears average 14 rows around and 8 inches long, well-filled with sweet, white kernels that are of an excellent quality for fresh eating and canning.  70-75 days to harvest.  Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.

Zea mays

Howling Mob is an open-pollinated sweet corn variety developed by C.D. Keller of Toledo, Ohio in the early 1900's.  Developed as a second early corn to compete with the later-season varieties, Howling Mob features thick husks that protect the ears from damage by ear worms that so often plague sweet corn later in the season.  Advertisements of the day boasted that Howling Mob afforded market growers the ability to plant in succession and have corn until frost.  The ... read more

read less

Zea mays

Howling Mob is an open-pollinated sweet corn variety developed by C.D. Keller of Toledo, Ohio in the early 1900's.  Developed as a second early corn to compete with the later-season varieties, Howling Mob features thick husks that protect the ears from damage by ear worms that so often plague sweet corn later in the season.  Advertisements of the day boasted that Howling Mob afforded market growers the ability to plant in succession and have corn until frost.  The name Howling Mob alluded to the crowds of buyers that would gather, anxious to purchase the fresh sweet corn.  Plants grow approximately 5 feet tall, consistently producing two ears per stalk.  Ears average 14 rows around and 8 inches long, well-filled with sweet, white kernels that are of an excellent quality for fresh eating and canning.  70-75 days to harvest.  Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.

Little Girl planting seeds
Little girl planting seeds

How to Grow Corn

Corn performs best in soil that is well-drained, but also able to hold onto some moisture, as corn tends to use quite a bit of water during its active growth phase.  Working in a healthy dose of well-composted manure in the fall will ensure that the rapidly growing plants receive adequate water and nutrition. 

After danger of frost has passed and soil temps have reached 55 degrees, sow seeds 9-12" apart, 1" deep, in rows 24-36" apart.  To maximize pollination use a paired row or square plot configuration.  Under ideal conditions, germination will occur in 7-10 days.

Not recommended

Insect Pests

Biological controls such as Bacillus thuringiensis can be effecting in controlling common corn pests like corn borer and earworm.  Aphids, Japanese beetles, and other hard-shelled insects can be controlled with a simple homemade insecticidal soap solution.

Diseases & Other Problems

Corn is susceptible to a number of plant diseases.  Consult your local extension office to learn which diseases are most prevalent in your region. Crop rotation, tillage, and removal of plant debris are all effective tools in managing common corn diseases.

Sweet corn is ready to harvest approximately 21 days after pollination. At peak, the kernel tips should be rounded and glossy. Shelling corn can be harvested once the husks have dried and the kernels have sufficiently hardened.  To test for maturity, pull back the husk and remove a kernel from the ear.  If the tip at the base of the kernel breaks off to reveal a brown "abscission" layer, the ears are ready to harvest.

CONSIDERATIONS:

To maintain genetic diversity, save seed from at least 50 to 100 plants.  If open-pollinated, plants should be isolated from other corn varieties by at least 1/4 mile.  Otherwise, hand-pollination can be performed.

HARVESTING SEED:

Wait until ears have reached full maturity and the kernels cannot be pierced by your fingernail. Peel back the husk and harvest the ear by pulling down and twisting. Place in a mesh bag or basket and allow to continue to dry for two weeks. Shell ears using a manual corn shelling tool or tightly grip a gloved hand around the ear and twist to separate the kernels from the cob. Winnow to remove any chaff and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

SEED LONGETIVITY:

Corn seeds will maintain 50% viability for three years when stored in a cool, dark place.

Hand pollinating corn

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
G
George Anderson
Howling Mob

The results from the Stowells Evergreen, and Howling Mob have not been very good. The Stowells Evergreen didn't come up at all and the Howling Mob type has about a 40% success rate. This may be to excessive rain the last couple of weeks? Disappointed thus far...

Hi George, thanks for your review. We're showing both of these at 90%+ germ. It's possible that the rain hampered germination, although it shouldn't matter so long as they aren't in standing water. We'll be in touch about some replacements.

Search