You won't regret the Polka(70d) selection. If you like the synergistic selections as I am leaning toward you may want to give in to them for the entire season. Followup excellent bicolor choices are Charisma(74d)and Providence(82d). I'll admit that the choice is highly subjective. I was raised on IoChief and Silver Queen, two huge eared varieties that my parents loved and I thought were better suited for livestock feed. But although my prefered corn for eating is a SH2 variety, I find that the isolation requirements and poor germination in colder soils make them harder growing choices. The synergistic varieties get my vote as both grower and consumer. It isn't surprising that people are paying more attention to Kernel texture in their preferences. But while some would consider a variety like Incredible to be very tender, others might call it mushy. So to help you to decide for next year I'd suggest that you visit a few farmers' markets in your area and purchase a few dozen ears from vendors who will reveal the names of the varieties that they offer. If you are drawn to one variety you can return and ask the grower more about that variety.

I planted "How Sweet It Is" last year and it was TERRIFFIC! Not only was it extra sweet, it lasted a couple weeks on the stalk with no change in flavor. Unfortunately, the raccoons got to eat more of it than we did. I finally put up a solar powered electric fence(from Tractor Supply Co.) and managed to get a late crop of Ruby Queen (all to myself...). The only down side was that many of the "How Sweet" stalks blew over after a big storm, so I jury rigged wires on either side of the rows, midway up the stalks 7 mounded some dirt to help re-support - well worth it. I will be ordering more next week. This time from HenryFields.com($25 coupon) - they are affiliated with Gurneys someway or another. They say their seed is "treated" - I don't recall Gurney's being treated. I'm going with (3) different sh2 types this year - main crop will be "That's Delicious" - supposed to be sturdier?, and depending on the temps I'll plant "Northen Xtra-Sweet" early or late...and I'll squeeze in some more "How Sweet It Is". Fertlizing and warm soil is key, but the "Northern Extra Sweet" says it'll take cooler temps... Last year I wished I had bought more sh2 seed to plant subsequent rows - nobody in Cincinnati carried sh2 or even heard of it...This winter, I have already seen an sh2 at Lowes...

Shelley, I won't comment much on soil temperature since you already noted some information about it. I doubt if any corn will germinate with temperatures down around 40F and it will take up to 3 weeks (if it doesn't rot :o( with temps at 50°F. In my area, the soil doesn't warm up above that until we are well into the growing season. Regarding cross-pollination: I often grow a little ornamental corn. It is always as isolated from the sweet corn as I can get it but they are in the same garden. Maturing at different times, cross-pollination isn't much of a problem but it does occur. The result is a few brightly colored seeds in a few ears of the sweet corn. Think of it this way, if we crossed a white-faced Hereford with a Black Angus - we'd expect white-faced black calves. There'd be a subtle difference in the taste of the beef from the meat of the 2 parent breeds. With corn, one parent plant grows the ear the other parent plant is growing the pollen laden tassel. And, we are -gasp- eating their babies!! Steve

Amaize is relatively new, not widely available. Reading the description on Burpee's website doesn't say if its SU, SE or SH2, which I'd want to know before I grow it. Considering its described as having a pop or crunch when you bite into it, and several people have commented on poor germination, I'd guess its SH2 (supersweet or an augmented variant). I've grown Bodacious before and was happy with the results. This year my varieties are Sugar Baby (just started picking this week), Painted Hill, Ruby Queen and Bodacious.