Description
AAS WINNER DETAILS
Award Type: National Winner
Class: Corn
Variety Name: American Dream
Genus: Zea
Species: Mays
Year: 2018
Common Name: Sweet Corn
Type: Edible – Vegetable
Breeder: Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc
Close Market Comparison: Xtratender 277A, Honey ‘N Pearl
PLANT NEEDS
Duration Type: Annual
Light Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Normal
Season Type: Warm season
Staking Required: No
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Foliage Color: Dark green
Plant Habit: Tall, upright
Fruit Color (Harvest): Bicolor
Fruit Shape: Cylinder
Fruit Size: 7 inches
Fruit Flavor Description: Very tender and sweet
Number Of Fruits Per Plant: 1
Disease Resistances or Tolerances: NCLB; Moderate Tolerance
IN THE GARDEN
Garden Spacing: 8 inches per plant
Days To Harvest (Sowing Seed): 77
HOW TO GROW
American Dream has an excellent and highly adaptable growing habit. This corn produces similarly from the Southern California Desert to the fields of Ontario, Canada. American Dream is the peak of eating quality in sweet corn, excellent bite depth, tenderness, and sweetness.
JUDGE'S OBSERVATIONS
- “Great garden performance”
- “The taste was so sweet and tender”
- “Good tip fill”
- “Nice bi-color kernels”
- “Nice erect healthy plants with nice 8 inch ears”
- “Very good taste”
AAS Winners
Dean Olson –
Very experienced corn and vegetable gardener, grew for 2020 season in NW Wisconsin. Planted in fresh-tilled soil, 12 row square planting , 12″ apart, 32″ rows. Fertilized and weeded as is customary for sweet corn. Waited until soil very warm, planted 6-15-2020.
Some observations:
All the cobs are small for sweet corn, which is bad for yield but they handle quite nicely on a dinnerplate. Plant height is correspondingly on the low end for a sweet corn variety, mine were planted in full sun with plenty of fertilizer and water, so I know I maximized inputs to growth. Do NOT recommend if you are looking for maximum yield. Try something like Burpee “Triple Crown” or many others..
Tip fill, disease resistance, etc were very good, which is normal for newer hybrids.
Kernels are super sweet and extra tender, as advertised
My corn had a wider variety of maturation dates than normal, ususally it all ready within two or three days, and very little was ready in 77 days despite normal weather. This actually was good since I was harvesting for family and friends, not market , so we ate off the planting for some time. Taste and texture hold very well in the field after ripening, which they should for how much sugar is in them
All-America Selections –
Thank you for your response, Dean. Your comments about yield, maturation date, etc. are factual, especially for commercial purposes. Since AAS tests for home garden usage, not commercial, the American Dream is an ideal choice for homeowners wanting an excellent sweet corn variety that is delicious and matures over a longer time frame.
John McCann –
I grow this in Phoenix, AZ. Does great. Just need to give plenty of water and nitrogen. The taste of this corn is unbelievable. Kids can’t stop eating it.
Britney & Jeff –
This was our first year growing this corn, but it will be our go to from now on. It was super easy to grow. It was healthy, and even when a strong wind came through our garden blowing most of everything over, this continued growing to maturity. Great size and the taste is out of this world. Best corn we have ever had! We’re going to see if we can squeeze in another crop this season, because nothing else compares now. Our only regret is we didn’t grow more!
Mickey Penrod –
American Dream is everything the description says it is. Checked yesterday to find the reality of this corn!!!