Oaxacan Green dent corn produces stunning, large green ears with dented kernels having various hues of yellow, blue and purple, on vigorous plants that can grow 10+ ft. tall even when dry-farmed. Though U.S. seed company descriptions often describe its origin in Oaxaca, Mexico, it has been difficult to trace its lineage to the region through historical documents or personal accounts. Ultimately, however, all corn varieties originate in Oaxaca, and this variety is a wonderful celebration of that fact. Oaxacan Green dent grows very much like an earlier-season midwestern dent corn, though it is a little late-maturing for the Pacific Northwest, requiring 130-140 days in the field due to cooler nighttime temperatures of the region. The variety was a top-performer in dry farming variety trials (2020, 2021) and is sought-after by tortillerias for its stand-out color, flavor and texture when nixtamalized into masa. Can also be ground into a green cornmeal.
Variety Details
Type | dent |
Species | Zea mays L. |
Availability | Restoration Seeds |
Breeder/Steward | Unknown |
Recommended by | Dry Farming Institute |
Location of Variety Evaluation | Western Oregon |
Variety Evaluation Info | 2021 OSU Dry Farming Project Dry Farmed Corn Trials |