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When to Plant Corn in Teton County, ID

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.

Teton County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost is September 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 103 days.

At an elevation of 6,709 feet, Teton County receives approximately 15.1 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. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Corn successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Teton County, ID (Zone 4b) Short season
103 days
Last Spring Frost May 31
103 growing days
First Fall Frost September 11

Teton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 17
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Aug 23 – Oct 18

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 Teton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“8.4) is more alkaline than Corn prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Corn.

How to Plant Corn

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

How Much Corn to Grow

1-2 ears
Average yield per plant
15
Plants per person
45 sq ft
Space per person

For a family of 4, plant approximately 60 corn plants in about 180 sq ft. In Teton County's 103-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 973 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€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.1" 5.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 1.4" 5.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 1.4" 5.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 1.2" 5.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Teton 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 ~980 GDD — county provides 1,261 GDD Good fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Teton County, ID

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 14 Jun 14 โ€“ Jul 5
Harvest August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Oct 11

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 Harvest
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: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

103 days in Teton County

Growing Tips for Corn in Teton County

Direct sow Corn outdoors after May 31 in Teton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 103.0-day growing season in Teton 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.

Teton County receives only 15" 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 Teton 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Corn in Teton County, ID?

Teton County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 31. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Teton County, ID?

Teton County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 31 and first fall frost is September 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Teton 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 Teton County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.