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When to Plant Sweet Corn in Collingsworth County, TX

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.

Collingsworth County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 4,944 feet, Collingsworth County receives approximately 48.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 95ยฐF, so Sweet Corn may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Sweet Corn will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Collingsworth County, TX (Zone 7a) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Collingsworth County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29

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 Collingsworth County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Sweet Corn prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Collingsworth County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Sweet Corn will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Sweet Corn.

How to Plant Sweet Corn

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

Succession Planting Sweet Corn

4
successive plantings in your 223-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,392 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Apr 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 6.5" 1.3" 5.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.7" 4.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 9.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Collingsworth 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 ~1,594 GDD — county provides 4,738 GDD Excellent fit

Sweet Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Collingsworth County, TX

Sweet Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 25
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 โ€“ Jul 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

223 days in Collingsworth County

Growing Tips for Sweet Corn in Collingsworth County

Direct sow Sweet Corn outdoors after March 28 in Collingsworth County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Collingsworth County dries quickly โ€” mulch Sweet Corn with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Collingsworth County, TX?

Collingsworth County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Sweet Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Collingsworth County, TX?

Collingsworth County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Collingsworth County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Collingsworth County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.