Sweet Corn Planting Guide
Planting sweet corn in May
This page is about sweet corn in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.
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How to water sweet corn
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for sweet corn. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
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Where to put sweet corn
South-facing beds are ideal for sweet corn. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant sweet corn. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Sweet corn is bred for high sugar content in its kernels, which convert to starch rapidly after harvest. Modern supersweet varieties hold their sweetness longer.
Zea mays convar. saccharata · Vegetable · Poaceae family · 60–90 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Sweet Corn Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Sweet Corn?
Sweet Corn Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Sweet Corn planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | May 29 | — | Jul 31 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 3b | — | May 24 | — | Jul 26 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 4a | — | May 20 | — | Jul 22 – Sep 2 |
| Zone 4b | — | May 15 | — | Jul 17 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 5a | — | May 2 | — | Jul 4 – Aug 15 |
| Zone 5b | — | Apr 25 | — | Jun 27 – Aug 8 |
| Zone 6a | — | Apr 17 | — | Jun 19 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 6b | — | Apr 10 | — | Jun 12 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 7a | — | Apr 1 | — | Jun 3 – Jul 15 |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 25 | — | May 27 – Jul 8 |
| Zone 8a | — | Mar 15 | — | May 17 – Jun 28 |
| Zone 8b | — | Mar 4 | — | May 6 – Jun 17 |
| Zone 9a | — | Feb 17 | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 |
| Zone 9b | — | Feb 1 | — | Apr 5 – May 17 |
| Zone 10a | — | Jan 8 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
| Zone 10b | — | Jan 8 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
| Zone 11a | — | Jan 8 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
| Zone 11b | — | Jan 8 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 23 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Start Indoors shows "—" because Sweet Corn is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.
Transplant shows "—" because Sweet Corn is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Sweet Corn
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
60–90 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Poaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Poaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Sweet Corn
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Sweet Corn
Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows for wind pollination. Direct sow after soil is warm. Isolate supersweet varieties from other corn types to prevent cross-pollination.
Saving Sweet Corn Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Sweet Corn by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Sweet Corn?
Sweet Corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Sweet Corn grow in?
Sweet Corn can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Sweet Corn need?
Growing Sweet Corn requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.