This means the sweet flavor is rapidly lost. Dr. J. R. Laughlin, University of Illinois, found a corn containing more sugar and when dried, the kernels shrunk thus the name shrunken. The Supersweet types slow down the conversion of sugar to starch so that the sweet flavor lasts longer after harvest. About ten years later, Dr. A.M. Rhodes, bred a corn with sweet flavor and tender texture. The kernels can be yellow, white, red or purple.
Many gardeners choose to plant sweet corn varieties in successive sowings.
One favorite sweet corn variety can be sown two weeks later than the first sowing to extend the harvest of fresh sweet corn. The second sowing will mature about two weeks later than the first. This extended fresh harvest will allow gardeners a longer time to eat fresh sweet corn. The fun begins when the corn comes in. It is true for some varieties but not all.