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When to Plant Corn in Park County, CO

Corn is a warm-season grass grown for its sweet ears, which are best eaten soon after harvest. It is wind-pollinated and must be planted in blocks for good kernel fill.

Park County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 16 and the first fall frost is September 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 80 days.

At an elevation of 7,567 feet, Park County receives approximately 23.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Corn to ensure they mature before fall.

Park County, CO (Zone 4b) Very short season
80 days
Last Spring Frost June 16
80 growing days
First Fall Frost September 4

Park County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 7
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 13
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 23

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Park County

How your county's soil matches Corn's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.6) overlaps with Corn's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Park County is excellent for Corn โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Corn.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Corn.

How to Plant Corn

1"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 621 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Corn needs ~980 GDD — county provides 980 GDD Tight fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Park County, CO

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Jul 21
Harvest September 1 Sep 1 โ€“ Oct 27

Plant 1" deep ยท 12" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Direct Sow
July Direct Sow
August โ€”
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

80 days in Park County

Growing Tips for Corn in Park County

Direct sow Corn outdoors after June 16 in Park County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 80.0-day growing season in Park County is tight for Corn (60.0-100.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Common pests for Corn in this region include corn earworm and corn borers. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Park County receives only 23" of rain annually. Corn needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than single rows for proper pollination. Direct sow after soil reaches 60F. Side-dress with nitrogen when plants are knee-high.

Recommended Corn Varieties for Park County

Ultra-early corn varieties for your season

Earlivee (58d) Sugar Buns (72d) Early Sunglow (63d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Celery

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Corn in Park County, CO?

Park County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of June 16. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Park County, CO?

Park County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is June 16 and first fall frost is September 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Park County gardeners in Zone 4b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Park County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.