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When to Plant Sweet Corn in Stanton County, KS

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.

Stanton County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 865 feet, Stanton County receives approximately 27.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Sweet Corn during the growing season.

Stanton County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Stanton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Aug 25

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 Stanton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.3) overlaps with Sweet Corn's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Sweet Corn will thrive.

How to Plant Sweet Corn

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

Succession Planting Sweet Corn

3
successive plantings in your 171-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 16 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,519 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Sweet Corn

Sweet 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 Sweet Corn Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 6.5" 3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.8" 4.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 2.1" 4.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2" 4.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Stanton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Sweet 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.

Sweet Corn needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,479 GDD Excellent fit

Sweet Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Stanton County, KS

Sweet Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Aug 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
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€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

171 days in Stanton County

Growing Tips for Sweet Corn in Stanton County

Direct sow Sweet Corn outdoors after April 26 in Stanton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Sweet 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 for wind pollination. Direct sow after soil is warm. Isolate supersweet varieties from other corn types to prevent cross-pollination.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sweet Corn in Stanton County, KS?

Stanton County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Sweet Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stanton County, KS?

Stanton County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Stanton County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Stanton County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.