Xtra-Tender 2171 – (F1) Corn Seed

Early super sweet (sh2) with good cool soil germination.
Widely adaptable variety with excellent eating quality. Better husk protection and tighter, more attractive husks than Xtra-Tender 270A, which it replaced. 16 straight, refined rows on ears that are 8-8½”. 6′ plants. Good cool-soil vigor compared to other sh2 varieties. Intermediate resistance to southern corn leaf blight and Stewart’s wilt. Select 3895T (Treated), 3895 (Untreated), or 3895G (Organic). Avg. 2,700 seeds/lb. Packet: 100 seeds.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Zea mays

CULTURE: Extensive crossing of super sweet varieties with non-super sweet varieties will cause tough, starchy kernels in both types. If you plan to grow both super sweet and non-super sweet varieties, avoid cross-pollination between super sweet varieties and non-super sweet varieties using any one of the following three options: 1) Plant super sweet varieties at least 300 feet from non-super sweet varieties, or 2) Stagger plantings by a 12-day planting date difference and separate each planting by 25 feet, or 3) Plant varieties that will mature at least 12 days apart and separate each planting by 25 feet. For complete information, please read our production guide #8982, Super Sweet Corn Production. Delay sowing fungicide-treated seeds until soil temperature is at least 55-60°F/13-16°C. Untreated seeds need a minimum soil temperature of 65°F/18°C. Sow 3/4-1″ deep, 6-7″ apart (or 2 seeds every 9″, thinning to 1 plant), rows 30-36″ apart. Increase this rate for untreated seeds. Arrange in blocks of at least 4 rows for proper pollination, which is needed for well-filled ears. Successive plantings can be made through early summer; most growers prefer to extend the sweet corn season by planting a few varieties of different maturities.

INSECT PESTS: Consult your local Extension office for Integrated Pest Management information. Reduce insect pests in the next corn crop by prompt plowing-in or removal and composting of cornstalks after harvest.

HARVEST: When kernels are full and “milky,” generally indicated by a drying and browning of the ear silks. Record the date on which about half the plants show silk. Corn is ready to eat 18-24 days after ear silks first show; the warmer the weather, the sooner you can pick it.

DAYS TO MATURITY: Varies widely with weather conditions and planting dates. Use these figures to compare one variety to another, not to accurately predict maturity on a given day.

AVG. SEEDING RATE: 1M/500′, 5M/2,500′, 25M/12,500′ 30M/acre at 2 seeds/ft. in rows 36″ apart.

SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB.: Avg. 2,900.

PACKET: 100 seeds, sows 75′ at 2 seeds/ft.