Growing Sweet corn, also corn,maize

Zea mays, var. rugosa : Poaceae / the grass family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Celery.

Your comments and tips

14 Sep 22, Anonymous (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Q1 Botanist call it a fruit. - Q 2 Very basically - N is for leaf production/plant growth - P is for root development and K is for flowering and fruit. Each of these help the plant grow in many ways. Google and learn more about how plants grow. Leaving soil fallow for 3 years does not make it fertile. You need to add manures compost fertilisers etc to make soil fertile and do this 1-2 mths before planting crops.
19 May 22, Mike (USA - Zone 9a climate)
How much 33-0-0 Nitrate should I use on my sweet corn per 100 ft of row? My rows are pretty big, so I would say the corn is at least 2 feet apart from row to row. That said should I plant at the bottom of the rows, or closer to the plants? Thanks.
24 May 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is the 33-0-0 the NPK of the fertiliser? If so I would use a more balanced fertiliser 12-15N, 3-6P, 8-15K. Grow your corn to about 1.5 feet and then run a handfull down each side covering about 4-5' with each handfull. Then hill the soil up around the plants - new roots will grow and help stabilise the plants. If you want to fertilise before planting don't use 33N - it will burn the roots of new germinating plants. Spread the fertiliser over about 1' of the row width and rake/dig it into the soil before planting seeds.
18 Mar 22, Elise Blanchard (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Is it too late to plant corn here in zone 7b?
19 Mar 22, Elder (USA - Zone 7b climate)
No, to be safe succession plant. Starting late Feb. thru Mar.
14 Feb 22, Julia (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hello I planted corn glass gem and because I had a few gaps in the plot I planted about half again with sweet corn. It has been 15 weeks since planting on 25oct and they are tall but the cobs and not cobbing very much. They seem immature. Is this perhaps as I planted the two types?
04 Mar 22, guggerlugs (New Zealand - temperate climate)
When I plant sweetcorn seed I usually plant a few more than needed if you have failures they are readily transplanted then you can fill the gaps, if they all germinate if you leave a bit of space at the edges you can shift them there.Don't plant too many but plant batches about 4 weeks apart if you have the space then you won't get over run with corn my third crop is just forming tassles now as we finish the last few cobs.
22 Feb 22, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Did you over plant the plot? Corn needs to be spaced as the directions say and it needs to be well watered and fertilised. Plants that germinate later than some can be left behind and not grow well, small thin weak.
17 Feb 22, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
I'm not certain - but when I read your post the first thing that came to mind was a Boron deficiency -- corn likes boron the same way that sunflowers like boron. From the net a study of corn and boron results: It was concluded that: (1) a lack of boron can cause blank stalks and barren ears; (2), the supply of available boron must be continuous; and (3), the critical level of boron in the upper leaves appears to be in between 11 to 13 ppm. I suspect you can apply boron the same way you would to sunflowers (though I am not certain)-- from the net for sunflowers: When the plants are 30cm (12) tall, dissolve 5ml (1 tsp) of borax (for boron) in 350 ml (12 fl oz) of water and spread the solution over 5m (15′) of row. Be careful not to over-apply this solution.
30 Jan 22, Margaret Hefner (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Everything wonderful to you and yours for 2022 and following! Wow, I was getting frustrated to find an endeavor that produced something that I can read, use, understand, not mis-understand... y'all are my new champions (as if champions ever get old). Welcome back, and glad to discover you, Margaret in Baja January 30! I have the whole year to be able to appreciate you!
Showing 31 - 40 of 417 comments

We live in suburbs in Chatswood Sydney but as soon as the cobs form a rabbit turns up and eats all the corn (also the chillies).

- Max

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.