Dent Corn, Wildfire (Organic)
Zea mays. Flinty Dent. 90 days.
After several years of collaboration with the Dry Farming Institute, we are thrilled to offer Wildfire Dent Corn, a dry farming selection of our own Open Oak Party Mix Dent Corn. Received as breeding material from Dr. Lucas Nebert, of Oregon State University. Wildfire Dent Corn has been collaboratively selected under, and for, dry farming conditions, as well as for increased culinary potential for tortillas. The population still produces some flinty kernels, which make great polenta.
To quote Lucas and the Dry Farming Institute:
“Wildfire dent represents a genetically-diverse dry farmed selection of Open Oak Party Mix dent corn that yields over 20% more than the original Party Mix when dry farmed. Led by Lucas Nebert, the OSU Dry Farming Program and the Dry Farming Institute have been breeding our original variety for increased water use efficiency using a breeding process called recurrent selection, which effectively speeds up corn adaptation without sacrificing too much genetic diversity. A new addition to this breeding population is some Northwestern Red dent, a vibrant, hardy OP corn variety that was bred by Oscar Will during the days that the northern great plains was called the ‘Northwest’. Northwestern Red dent also brings more of the flame-like kernel appearance to this Wildfire population.”
Seed produced by the Dry Farming Institute at Sol Cycle Farm, Corvallis, Oregon.
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Corn does best when direct sown 1” deep, spaced at 12” centers, but can be planted as close as 8″ apart if given enough fertility. If sowing early in cold soil we recommend soaking seed overnight in water before sowing. Sow once danger of frost has passed. For optimal pollination do not plant a single row, instead plant 3-4 rows in blocks of at least 100 plants. Use row cover to protect emerging seedlings from birds and insects.
Seed Saving
Harvest cobs for grain or seed when stalks are brown and ears are dry. Fold husk back and leave indoors to finish drying completely. Remove kernels by rubbing two cobs together, or by hand. Test for dryness with a hammer; dry kernels shatter. Isolate from other corn by distance –1 mile – or time, two weeks – between sowings.
Andrew Enslow (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? California
Wildfire performed very well in my taxing trial. Since I have a mild Southern California Climate with the lowest temperature at 33F, I sowed it January 25th 2025. It had good germination and easily grew to maturity. I grew it in a 3×10 block and it had very good pollination. Corn earworm took about 25%, but that was impressive compared to the Montana Morado Maize beside it that took a 90% hit.
I had to harvest early since the Squirrel Damage started, which caused 30% milk stage corn. But for basically free corn watered by 6.75″ of rain in winter…that’s AMAZING!
If you try this yourself in a warm climate with lower rainfall, I recommend trying Planting 2 corn per hole, thinning to 1. Planting 12″ spacing with 18″ between rows with at least 3 rows and 30 plants. My rain ends in April sometime so I had to plant early to capture all that rain. The early Planting caused the corn to slow it’s growth so harvest was in the 150-180 day range (5-6 months).
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