Yukon Chief Sweet Corn Seeds

Yukon Chief Sweet Corn is cold resistant, open pollinated, and an early maturing heirloom that will germinate and grow in cold soils. The dwarf stalks grow to around 4-5 feet tall and produce 5-6 inch tapered ears of yellow kernels.  Developed at the University of Alaska Research Station in 1958.   Earliest variety I have ever grown and has an amazing flavour for such an early variety  55 Days to maturity.

This sweet corn is known for its adaptability to cooler and shorter growing seasons. Developed by Dr. Arvo Kallio at the University of Alaska, Agricultural Experiment Station, it was introduced to gardeners in 1958. Created through traditional breeding methods, it’s a hybrid of ‘Gaspe Flint’ and an unidentified variety. This seed is particularly suitable for home gardeners with limited space, as it can be grown in raised beds or containers. Yukon Chief corn plants are relatively short and produce cobs that are about 5 inches in length on average.

This corn variety matures quickly, typically in about 55 days, making it one of the earliest maturing sweet corn varieties known. The ears are yellow, slightly tapered, and have about twelve rows of kernels. This variety was specifically bred to germinate and grow well in cooler soils where sweet corn generally cannot be grown. It is perfect for Canadian gardens that may not be able to grow long season corn varieties.

Yukon Chief is also noted for its ability to produce multiple ears per plant, with some plants yielding 2 to 6 ears. This makes it a practical and efficient choice for gardeners in regions with limited garden space. Additionally, the corn is described as semi-sweet, offering a traditional sweet corn flavour.

Because of these characteristics, Yukon Chief Sweet Corn is a popular choice for gardeners in cooler climates or those with shorter growing seasons, as well as those looking for a compact plant suitable for smaller garden spaces. I like to grow a semi-vining bean variety with them, as they are not tall enough to support a pole bean.

These seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.