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Heirloom

Wapsie Valley Dent Corn

Quick Facts:

  • Open-pollinated variety
  • Golden kernels with red cast
  • High protein content
  • Great for grinding into flour & grits
  • A nutritious feed for livestock

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Quantity: Packet (50 Seeds)

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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.

Wapsie Valley Dent Corn

More about Wapsie Valley Dent

Zea mays

Wapsie Valley Dent is an heirloom variety of dent corn that produces 7 to 8-inch-long ears filled with golden kernels.  Developed by Adolph Steinbronn of Bremer County, Iowa, Wapsie Valley Dent was selected from a cross between Reid's Yellow Dent and a once-popular dent variety known as Golden Glow.  It was released to growers in 1971.  Wapsie Valley Dent features well-formed ears borne on 9-foot-tall plants with good standability and overall yield.  The golden kernels have a red cast, owing to their pericarp pigmentation, and are reported to be preferred by livestock with an average of 11% crude protein.  This nutritional powerhouse isn't just for critters, though.  Its golden kernels are well-suited for grin... More

Less

Zea mays

Wapsie Valley Dent is an heirloom variety of dent corn that produces 7 to 8-inch-long ears filled with golden kernels.  Developed by Adolph Steinbronn of Bremer County, Iowa, Wapsie Valley Dent was selected from a cross between Reid's Yellow Dent and a once-popular dent variety known as Golden Glow.  It was released to growers in 1971.  Wapsie Valley Dent features well-formed ears borne on 9-foot-tall plants with good standability and overall yield.  The golden kernels have a red cast, owing to their pericarp pigmentation, and are reported to be preferred by livestock with an average of 11% crude protein.  This nutritional powerhouse isn't just for critters, though.  Its golden kernels are well-suited for grinding into cornmeal and grits.  Distillers also report that they also make an excellent, distinctly flavored bourbon.

After Steinbronn passed away, Wapsie Valley Dent was picked up and further improved by longtime corn breeder Victor Kucyk.  Its performance in a variety of university and USDA trials surprised researchers, notching yields as high as 152 bushels per acre in one location, on par with the commercial checks used in the study—not bad for an open-source variety.

Although still relatively unknown today, at least by the wider corn grower community, Wapsie Valley Dent represents the life's work of a man who swore off herbicides and industrialized agriculture long before it was popular to do so.  His work, combined with that of Kucyk has pushed the limits of what is possible for open-pollinated corn.  Today, Steinbronn's family carries on his legacy with the operation of their regenerative organic farm in Waverly, Iowa (see link below).  There they produce a variety of open-pollinated corn and small grain varieties while managing a herd of beef cattle.  Wapsie Valley Dent matures approximately 87 days after sowing.  Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.

If you are interested in purchasing larger quantities of this variety or would like to support the Steinbronn farm directly, please visit their website here.

Zea mays

Wapsie Valley Dent is an heirloom variety of dent corn that produces 7 to 8-inch-long ears filled with golden kernels.  Developed by Adolph Steinbronn of Bremer County, Iowa, Wapsie Valley Dent was selected from a cross between Reid's Yellow Dent and a once-popular dent variety known as Golden Glow.  It was released to growers in 1971.  Wapsie Valley Dent features well-formed ears borne on 9-foot-tall plants with good standability and overall yield.  The golden ker... read more

read less

Zea mays

Wapsie Valley Dent is an heirloom variety of dent corn that produces 7 to 8-inch-long ears filled with golden kernels.  Developed by Adolph Steinbronn of Bremer County, Iowa, Wapsie Valley Dent was selected from a cross between Reid's Yellow Dent and a once-popular dent variety known as Golden Glow.  It was released to growers in 1971.  Wapsie Valley Dent features well-formed ears borne on 9-foot-tall plants with good standability and overall yield.  The golden kernels have a red cast, owing to their pericarp pigmentation, and are reported to be preferred by livestock with an average of 11% crude protein.  This nutritional powerhouse isn't just for critters, though.  Its golden kernels are well-suited for grinding into cornmeal and grits.  Distillers also report that they also make an excellent, distinctly flavored bourbon.

After Steinbronn passed away, Wapsie Valley Dent was picked up and further improved by longtime corn breeder Victor Kucyk.  Its performance in a variety of university and USDA trials surprised researchers, notching yields as high as 152 bushels per acre in one location, on par with the commercial checks used in the study—not bad for an open-source variety.

Although still relatively unknown today, at least by the wider corn grower community, Wapsie Valley Dent represents the life's work of a man who swore off herbicides and industrialized agriculture long before it was popular to do so.  His work, combined with that of Kucyk has pushed the limits of what is possible for open-pollinated corn.  Today, Steinbronn's family carries on his legacy with the operation of their regenerative organic farm in Waverly, Iowa (see link below).  There they produce a variety of open-pollinated corn and small grain varieties while managing a herd of beef cattle.  Wapsie Valley Dent matures approximately 87 days after sowing.  Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.

If you are interested in purchasing larger quantities of this variety or would like to support the Steinbronn farm directly, please visit their website here.

Bucket of heirloom beans
Bucket of heirloom beans

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

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