How to grow Sweet Corn
Zea mays
Summer on the cob — grow it in a block.
Sweet corn is wind-pollinated, so plant it in a block of short rows — not one long row — for full ears. It is hungry and thirsty; give it sun, rich soil, and steady water.
Grow Sweet Corn with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Sweet Corn at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–6.8 |
| Spacing | 12 in |
| Harvest | 65–90 days |
| Plant | After last frost |
| Note | Plant in a block |
How to grow Sweet Corn, step by step
Plant in a block
- Sow after frost in a block of at least 4 short rows so it pollinates well.
- Space 12 in; thin extras.
Feed & water
- Corn is a heavy feeder — rich soil plus nitrogen.
- Never let it go dry at tasseling and ear fill.
Pick at milk stage
- Silks turn brown and a poked kernel squirts milky juice when ready.
- Eat or chill fast — sugar fades quickly.
Sweet Corn problems & fixes
Sweet Corn — Gaps of missing kernels: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Poor pollination. Plant in a block, not a single row.
Sweet Corn — Worm in the ear tip: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Corn earworm. Just trim the tip; a little oil on silks helps.
Sweet Corn — Stalks blown over: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Wind on shallow roots. Hill soil around the base.
Recommended sweet corn varieties
- Golden Bantam — Heirloom. Old-fashioned corn flavor.
- Silver Queen — White / late. Sweet white ears; needs a longer season.
- Ambrosia — Bicolor / early. Super-sweet and dependable.
Sweet Corn month-by-month
| January | Off-season. |
|---|---|
| February | Plan a sunny block. |
| March | Order seed. |
| April | Wait for warm soil. |
| May | Sow in a block after frost. |
| June | Knee-high; feed nitrogen. |
| July | Tassels and silks appear. |
| August | Ears fill — keep watered. |
| September | Harvest at milk stage. |
| October | Last ears. |
| November | Pull and compost stalks. |
| December | Off-season. |