Virginia White Gourdseed Corn Seeds (Zea mays cv.)

Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.
Thomas Jefferson grew a dozen varieties of "Indian Corn" in his lifetime, starting in 1774. The "sweet or shriveled" type he planted in 1810 may have been noted in 1705 by Robert Beverly, who described Virginia corn as "a larger grain and looks shriveled with a dent on the back". Virginia White Gourdseed Corn has tapered, flattened white kernels that mimic those of gourds. Young ears are good for roasting and mature kernels make hominy and finely-textured flour.

Direct sow seeds outdoors when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees F. Produces 1-2 ears per stalk; the ears are short and fat (3" x 8"). Approximately 40 seeds per packet.