Tom Thumb Popcorn Corn

2Reviews
SKU: 0864A
$3.95 to $11.50

Item Details

(aka Hulless, Dwarf Rice, Squirrel Tooth) The original Tom Thumb popcorn dates to circa the 1860s. This strain is the result of refinements made on the original by Professor Elwyn Meader of the University of New Hamsphire. Dwarf 3½' plants produce 1-2 ears each that measure up to 4" long. Good for coastal and short-season areas.


  • 85-90 days
  • Organic
  • Popcorn
  • Grows 3-4 feet tall
  • 1-2 ears per stalk
  • Good for coastal and short-season areas

This variety works for:

  • Popping


This corn is perfect for stovetop popping:

  • First remove kernels from the cob using a tool or by rubbing two cobs together
  • Add oil and 3 kernels of popcorn to a large pot, cover, and cook on medium-high heat until the kernels pop
  • Take those kernels out of the pot and add the rest of the kernels
  • Cover and take the pot off the heat and wait 30 seconds before replacing the pot on the heat
  • Shake the pot occasionally to make sure all kernels are heated
  • When popping slows after about 2 minutes, take the lid off the pot and remove from heat.

  • Toppings for popcorn include the traditional salt and butter, nutritional yeast, grated cheese, honey, dried herbs and even caramel and chocolate.

    Growing Instructions

    Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors 1" deep after danger of frost has passed. For good pollination and full ears, plant in blocks of 3-6 rows instead of one long row. Thin seedlings to 8" apart. Corn is a heavy feeder and does best in well-drained fertile soil with plenty of water.

    • Direct Seed: 4" Apart
    • Germination: 4-21 Days
    • Rows Apart: 36-48"
    • Light: Full Sun

    Ratings & Reviews

    2 reviews

    • 3 stars
    • 0 reviews
    • 2 stars
    • 0 reviews
    • 1 star
    • 0 reviews

    Perfect!

    by

    Wow! I live in north of Seattle, Washington, and this corn delivered as promised - short season for our short, warm summers and dwarf size for a small garden. Most of the seeds I planted grew and each gave an ear of corn. But the delight was in the popping because this was far and away the best popcorn we've ever eaten. It actually had flavor and needed no salt or seasonings (mind you, we love organic popcorn and salt, so it was a great surprise that popcorn would have its own flavor.) I'm giving seeds to my neighbors with kids and growing it everywhere I can!

    Tom Thumb is very good, but not my favorite of the Seed Savers varieties

    by

    As I sit here eating a bowl of Tom Thumb popcorn harvested from our garden this past fall, I wish it were BearPaw popcorn. We have grown four different popcorn varieties from SeedSavers and our order of preference in eating is 1. Bearpaw 2. Strawberry 3. Tom Thumb 4. Glass Gem. On a side note, we have only grown Tom Thumb once, and it was a tough year for gardening due to numerous hail storms. Our roof needed replaced, but Tom Thumb came through with about half the stalks producing corn, so I'm just grateful to have any homegrown popcorn to eat. Just for comparison the popped Tom Thumb is about the same size as the Bearpaw. Tom Thumb is more yellow and dense. Bearpaw is white, lighter in density, and cooked in the microwave in a silicon corn-popping bowl with extra oil (I use avocado oil because of its high smoke point) is super crispy. I will eat Bearpaw, Strawberry, or Tom Thumb any day over the stuff sold in the massive grocery store.