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When to Plant Corn in Butts County, GA

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.

Butts County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 178 feet, Butts County receives approximately 49 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Corn during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Corn, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Butts County, GA (Zone 7b) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 23
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10

Butts County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 23 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jul 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 7

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 Butts County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“6.8) overlaps with Corn's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

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

Succession Planting Corn

4
successive plantings in your 232-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,519 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€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 4.5" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 6.5" 5.8" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.5" 3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Butts County). 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 ~1,340 GDD — county provides 3,886 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Butts County, GA

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 20
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 โ€“ Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
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 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 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

232 days in Butts County

Growing Tips for Corn in Butts County

Direct sow Corn outdoors after March 23 in Butts County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Butts County's clay soil (26% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Corn. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

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 Butts County, GA?

Butts County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 23. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Butts County, GA?

Butts County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and first fall frost is November 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Butts County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Butts County, GA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.