Blog

When to Plant Corn in Iberville Parish, LA

Iberville Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Iberville Parish, Louisiana gardeners in May

Each item below is timed to Iberville Parish, Louisiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost February 14
Avg. first frost December 5
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Harvest corn as they ripen

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: corn

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Iberville Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost is December 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 294 days.

At an elevation of 464 feet, Iberville Parish receives approximately 59 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 103°F, so Corn may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — 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.

Iberville Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
294 days
Last Spring Frost February 14
294 growing days
First Fall Frost December 5

Iberville Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (176 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 9 – Jun 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (175 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – Jun 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (165 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 11 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jul 8

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 Iberville Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.2) is more acidic than Corn prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Iberville 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 low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Corn.

How to Plant Corn

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

Succession Planting Corn

5
successive plantings in your 294-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 551 gal / 100 sq ft

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 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 6.5" 4.9" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Mar 6.5" 6" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Apr 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 5.1" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 5.6" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 5.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 4.9" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 6.5" 5.3" 1.2" 💧 Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Iberville Parish). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~2,180 GDD — county provides 8,038 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline — Iberville Parish, LA

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 14
Harvest April 25 Apr 25 – Jun 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

294 days in Iberville Parish

Growing Tips for Corn in Iberville Parish

Direct sow Corn outdoors after February 14 in Iberville Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Iberville Parish dries quickly — mulch Corn with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 103°F in Iberville Parish, provide afternoon shade for Corn and water deeply in the morning.

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.

Recommended Corn Varieties for Iberville Parish

Heat-tolerant varieties that silk well in high temps

Silver Queen (92d) Incredible (85d)

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 Iberville Parish, LA?

Iberville Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 14. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Iberville Parish, LA?

Iberville Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and first fall frost is December 5.

🌱

Your Iberville Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Iberville Parish (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.