Q&A for How to Grow Popcorn

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  • Question
    Can you grow popcorn in your garden?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, and though you can use the kernel of popcorn, it is a useless crop for food.
  • Question
    Where do you grow popcorn?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    States like Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska are the largest producers of popcorn in the U.S.
  • Question
    What is the easiest nut to grow?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The American hazelnut is one of the easiest nuts to grow, so you could try that one.
  • Question
    How do you make corn for popping?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Keep in mind that you need to grow a specific type of corn (it's not the same corn as sweet corn). Once the ear is ready and the kernels are hard, pick the corn, pull the husk off the ear, and cook it in the oven for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
  • Question
    How much should I water them each day?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    While the corn is growing, it is recommended that it gets 2 inches of water a week.
  • Question
    If I'm growing normal popcorn, is it unusual for germinating kernels to gain a reddish tint?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    There can be several different shades of kernels, so a mild tinting is not unusual. However, too much red tint can be a sign of excessive moisture or mold.
  • Question
    Can I pop homegrown popcorn in a microwave?
    Community Answer
    Yes. I don't even take the kernels off the cob. I place the cob in a paper bag and microwave it for about two minutes. The popcorn pops right off.
  • Question
    When do I stop watering the corn stalks? Do I keep the corn stalk alive while I watch the corn cobs dry?
    Community Answer
    Stop watering when the ears are almost ready.
  • Question
    Which way do I put the popcorn seeds?
    Community Answer
    This won't matter. All plants will grow towards the surface and towards the sun.
  • Question
    What happens if I try to dry out a regular corn cob? Will the kernels pop?
    Community Answer
    Nothing will happen if you try to dry out a regular corn cob. No, they will not pop.
  • Question
    How do I tell my popcorn plants from sweet corn?
    Community Answer
    Don't plant them near one another, due to the possibility of cross-pollination.
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