A quintessential movie snack, popcorn is often served with butter (or oil, if you prefer popping it on the stove rather than in an air popper) and salt, but can also be used to make popcorn balls, sweet and salty kettle corn, Poppycock, and a variety of other treats. Whichever way you like your popcorn, it is not only easy to make, but can also be easily grown in your own backyard. If you're interested in learning more about how to grow popcorn, this guide was designed for you. Because both making and eating popcorn are favorite activities for many children, learning to grow popcorn can be a fun way to teach them about and get them involved in gardening.

While microwave popcorn can often be high in fat, sodium, and several other undesirable chemicals, air popped popcorn without butter and salt, is actually a very healthy snack. It is high in dietary fiber, low in sugar, sodium and saturated fat, free of cholesterol, and a one-cup serving contains only 31 calories.http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-popcorn-air-popped-i19034 In addition, popcorn also contains protein, calcium and iron.http://howtogardenguide.com/2008/03/05/growing-popcorn-how-to-grow-popcorn-in-your-garden/ An added bonus to growing your own popcorn is that, provided you avoid the use of chemical pesticides, you can be certain that the popcorn you produce is organic, so you'll be providing your family with a tasty, healthy, organic snack that can be enjoyed year-round.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to growing popcorn is that it requires 90-110 days to grow to maturity, but, because the plants are susceptible to frost, cannot be planted until all chances of frost have passed.http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/AFCM/popcorn.html http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2 Because of this, and also because popcorn can take a bit longer than some other vegetables to germinate, you may want to consider starting your popcorn seeds indoors, and then transferring them outside once it has warmed up if you live in an area with a short growing season.http://howtogardenguide.com/2008/03/05/growing-popcorn-how-to-grow-popcorn-in-your-garden/

Another thing to keep in mind when growing popcorn is that it can cross-pollinate with other types of corn. So, if you are also growing sweet corn in your garden, make sure that the two crops are at least 500 feet apart.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2 If you do not have a large planting area, you can also plant the two different types of corn at least two weeks apart, so that their periods of active pollination will be staggered.http://www.recipelink.com/mf/0/77818

Popcorn plants will only produce the kernels necessary for making popcorn if they are pollinated. In most cases, pollination will occur naturally, with help from the wind, birds and bugs. However, you can help the natural process and ensure your popcorn plants are pollinated by gently shaking the stalks that contain tassels topped with bright yellow pollen. If you want to be even more precise, you can remove the pollen into a paper or plastic bag, and then manually place it on the silk of the female popcorn plants.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=3

As mentioned, popcorn needs a minimum of 90 days to mature, so if you live in a northern climate where you may not get at least three months of warm weather, start your popcorn seeds indoors.

1. Place several seeds in a damp paper towel, and then place the paper towel in a resealable plastic bag or glass jar.
2. Place the bag or jar in a warm location that gets at least six hours of sun per day. Ensure that the seeds stay moist, adding more water in necessary.
3. Once the seeds have germinated - when they have little roots on them - gently place them in pots filled with soil. Again, water them as necessary to ensure they stay moist, but not sopping wet.http://www.recipelink.com/mf/0/77818

If you live in a more southern climate with a longer growing season, you can plant your popcorn seeds directly outdoors. The steps listed below will be the same regardless of whether you are planting popcorn seeds or the seedlings you have started indoors.

1. Wait about two weeks after the last frost, so that the ground is warm enough to provide the desirable conditions for popcorn cultivation.http://www.recipelink.com/mf/0/77818
2. Use a hoe, rake or tiller to prepare your popcorn bed by breaking up any large clumps of earth and removing any rocks. Because popcorn seeds are small and seedlings can be delicate, any clumps or rocks can impede growth.http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/AFCM/popcorn.html
3. A soil pH level of 6.0 is ideal for growing popcorn, so consider having your soil pH tested, and then adding lime if need be to achieve the desired pH.http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/AFCM/popcorn.html
4. Once you are ready to plant your seeds or seedlings, dig a hole 1-2 inches deep (or as deep as the pot the plant is currently in, if you are planting seedlings), place the seeds or seedling in the hole and cover or fill in lightly with soil.
5. Space the seeds or plants 12-8 inches apart to ensure they have enough room to grow.http://www.ehow.com/how_4885353_grow-popcorn-seeds.html http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2
6. Because the plants require pollination in order to produce, plant them in blocks of rows at least four feet square.http://www.ehow.com/how_4885353_grow-popcorn-seeds.html

Particularly when the plants are first starting, it is important to keep their bed free from weeds. Do so by removing weeds by hand or using a hoe, but be careful not to disturb the popcorn plants, which can be delicate when young and have relatively shallow root systems. If you don't have time to weed, or if weeds are a problem in your garden, consider adding some mulch.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2 In addition to keeping weeds at bay, mulch can also help the soil retain moisture.

Water the popcorn as much as needed to keep the soil moist, but not wet or soggy.http://www.ehow.com/how_4885353_grow-popcorn-seeds.html When watering during pollination however, water the ground, rather than the plants themselves, to avoid washing away the pollen.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2

Corn is a relatively heavy feeder and, like other varieties of corn, requires a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Apply an appropriate fertilizer when plants have grown to about six inches high, and then again when the plants are about two feet high.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=2

You will know that your popcorn is ready to harvest when the husks turn brown and dry out.http://www.ehow.com/how_4885353_grow-popcorn-seeds.html At this point, you should be able to simply twist the ears of corn from their stalks. Be sure to remove the husks from the ears, and then place the corn in a cool, dry place to dry out. In order to dry properly, the corn needs air circulation, so you may want to tie several ears together and hang them up, or place them in a mesh bag.http://www.ehow.com/how_4885353_grow-popcorn-seeds.html http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=4

Depending on the conditions, it will take about 4-6 weeks for the corn to dry out and be ready to make delicious popcorn. When it's ready, the corn should come easily away from the husk with just a bit of gentle twisting or rubbing.http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1993-04-01/Homegrown-Popcorn.aspx?page=4 If you're not sure if it's adequately dried, simply remove some kernels and test them out in a pot or your air popper to see how well they pop—if most of them pop up, it's ready to be removed from the ears. Once you have removed the kernels from the cobs, store your popcorn in airtight containers and get ready to enjoy your own fresh-grown, fresh-popped popcorn anytime you pop in a DVD or have a popcorn craving.