Gardeners usually rush to harvest and eat fresh sweet corn as soon as it's ripe. However, there's another type of corn that can be harvested more casually. Popcorn is as easy to grow as sweet corn, but you don't have to be as diligent about harvesting it on time. While most gardeners think of the usual white or yellow popcorn varieties, there are others with unique characteristics that can add an interesting twist to movie night.

Popcorn is native to the Americas, with an ancient history dating back more than 5000 years. It's believed the first use of corn was for popping. Aztec Indians in the 16th century used popcorn in ceremonies as headdresses, necklaces, and for food. It was "toasted until it burst" to make it more edible. As soon as American farmers starting growing feed and sweet corn, they also grew popcorn.

Today, it's one of the most popular snack foods. The average American consumes more than 54 quarts of popcorn a year.

To grow popcorn all you need is a plot of land, fertile soil, and knowledge of when to harvest and how to store the seeds.

Popcorn is different from other types of corn because of its moisture content. Popcorn's kernels consist of nearly all hard starch covered by a thin, hard shell with moisture inside. Each kernel acts as a miniature steam engine when heated. As pressure builds and the moisture inside expands, the kernel explodes, and out comes the fluffy white kernels we love to eat.

Popcorn is available in a range of colors such as white, red, blue, and yellow. The best variety for you to grow depends mostly on your personal preference and the length of your growing season. In areas with short growing seasons, select varieties that mature quickly, such as the open-pollinated, white-kerneled 'Japanese Hulless'. This 4- to 5-foot-tall plant produces small, nearly hull-less popped kernels in about 85 days from sowing.

In all other areas, select popcorn varieties based on flavor and cob color. Yellow popcorn tends to pop into bigger kernels than white popcorn. A good yellow variety to try is the hybrid 'Robust 9035'. It produces 8-inch-long ears that pop to a light yellow color. 'Snow Puff' is a very tender hybrid white variety with thin hulls. For a corn of a different color, 'Shaman's Blue' is a blue hybrid that produces 8-inch-long ears with glossy blue hulls that pop into white kernels with black accents. It has a crunchy texture and savory flavor. The open-pollinated 'Red Strawberry' produces 2- to 4-inch-long, dark red ears that are attractive as ornamentals as well.