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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm 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

17 May 09, Kasha (Australia - temperate climate)
Dean a friend of mine advised me that sweetcorn will taste floury when grown out of season, when it is too cold something about them not ripening properly from the cold. I find if I grow corn during Autumn/Winter my corn stalk is stunted to under 1m and produces floury corn....YUK
20 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Dean: did you plant seed or seedling? If the sweet corn was planted too near dent corn then a cross could have occured. How long between harvest and consumption? (sugar (sweet)starts turning to starch (flour) as soon as you harvest) What variety?
21 May 09, deano (Australia - tropical climate)
i live in cairns is it possible to keep the best cobs from my harvest to use the kernels for my future crops. if so what is the way of preparing and drying the kernels
22 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Deano. Depends on the variety. If you bought heirloom / non hybrid seeds then yes. If you went to the supermarket/nursery and bought a packet of sweetcorn seeds then probably not. Also depends on how many varieties you planted and how far apart (including your neighbours). Corn is promiscuous, varieties will cross very easily.
30 May 09, Dean (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks David. Corn was grown from seedling. Planted 300mm apart and no neighbours had corn growing. The ears where picked and cooked straight away. Dont know what went wrong but will grow again when the seasons right. Thank's again.
11 Jun 09, eli (Australia - tropical climate)
how long does it take sweet corn to grow could you also give me some general info
15 Jun 09, Goldy (Australia - temperate climate)
hers a tip 4 growing corn from seed what i do is crush about 3kg of charcoal to almost powder mix with 3-4ltr water add a cup of seaweed concerntrate and a cup of fish emulsion with 2 tblspoons of trace elements then add a1-1/12 kg of sand let soak over night then placein the bottom of the trenches and plant seed on top then cover with soil
29 Jun 09, kat (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm growing corn in Darwin for the first time, it started off going great guns but now is being eaten away by ants! I have eggplant planted next to it and it is doing really well, any ideas??
25 Aug 09, Mark (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I've read that when sowing corn seeds, you should put two seeds in each hole then thinout when they shoot. Is this neccessary and, if so, what is the reason for doing it. I have also read this for other vegetables.
19 Oct 12, Ferry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
this is to get the strongest seedlings and therefor a better crop as well as to in sure a plant per hole. i do not thin out corn and instead plant in decomposing seed pots with a few extras. corn does not always do well in normal seed trays when trans plated
Showing 21 - 30 of 418 comments

Colleen, the shallow soil shouldn't be a problem as sweetcorn has a fibrous root system and is shallow rooted. The most important thing is too keep the moisture up and keep them well mulched if soil is shallow. If cobs are small due to not all kerels developing, this due to lack of pollination. Follow the instructions on the site and plant in blocks. Regards.

- willo

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.