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When to Plant Corn in Bathgate, ND

Corn
Bathgate, ND Zone 4a June

This month in Bathgate, ND

Your garden in Bathgate, ND is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 15.9 hrs
Before July arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: corn

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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.

Bathgate, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 958 feet, Pembina County receives approximately 26.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Corn to ensure they mature before fall.

Bathgate, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Bathgate Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Corn Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 26

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 Bathgate

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) overlaps with Corn's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Pembina County is excellent for Corn — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Corn will thrive.

How to Plant Corn

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

Succession Planting Corn

2
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 20 to harvest before frost.

Corn Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 825 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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Pembina County). 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 ~740 GDD — county provides 1,258 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline — Bathgate, ND

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 29 May 29 – Jun 19
Harvest July 31 Jul 31 – Sep 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Pembina County

Growing Tips for Corn in Bathgate

Direct sow Corn outdoors after May 15 in Pembina County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Bathgate

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 →

🌱

Your Pembina County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Pembina County (Zone 4a). 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 Pembina County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.