How to grow sweet corn
Zea mays
Get your exact dates
The windows below are relative to your frost dates. Enter your ZIP for the calendar dates.
Open the planting calendarWhen to plant sweet corn
Direct sowat your last spring frost to 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Days to maturity
- 60 to 90 (from sowing)
- Spacing
- 8 to 12 in apart, rows 30 in
- Planting depth
- 1 in
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- 1 in per week
- Soil pH
- 5.8 to 7
Common problems
- corn earworm
- european corn borer
- smut
- rust
- poor kernel fill
Sweet Corn by hardiness zone
Planting dates for a typical location in each zone:
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing sweet corn in home gardens
- Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Sweet Corn in Your Garden
Last updated 2026-06-11.