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When to Plant Corn in Pointe Coupee Parish, LA

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.

Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 21 and the first fall frost is November 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 279 days.

At an elevation of 85 feet, Pointe Coupee Parish receives approximately 53.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Corn during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Corn will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Corn root diseases.

Pointe Coupee Parish, LA (Zone 8b) Year-round
279 days
Last Spring Frost February 21
279 growing days
First Fall Frost November 27

Pointe Coupee Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5-6.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (161 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – Jun 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (159 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 9

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 Pointe Coupee Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0โ€“6.1) is more acidic than Corn prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Pointe Coupee Parish warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Corn will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Corn.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). Annual compost additions will help Corn.

How to Plant Corn

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

Succession Planting Corn

5
successive plantings in your 279-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 19 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 722 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Corn

Corn needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Corn Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 6.5" 4" 2.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 6.5" 6" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 6.5" 5.2" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 4" 2.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 4.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Nov in Pointe Coupee Parish). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Corn Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Corn needs ~1,640 GDD — county provides 5,740 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Pointe Coupee Parish, LA

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 21
Harvest May 2 May 2 โ€“ Jun 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

279 days in Pointe Coupee Parish

Growing Tips for Corn in Pointe Coupee Parish

Direct sow Corn outdoors after February 21 in Pointe Coupee Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Pointe Coupee Parish dries quickly โ€” mulch Corn with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Celery

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Corn in Pointe Coupee Parish, LA?

Pointe Coupee Parish is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of February 21. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pointe Coupee Parish, LA?

Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 21 and first fall frost is November 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pointe Coupee Parish gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Pointe Coupee Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.