Vegetable · Grain crop
Sweet Corn
Zea mays var. saccharataSweet corn turns a warm season into towering stalks and plump, milky ears, but it is a crop that lives or dies by pollination. Wind carries pollen from the tassels above down to the silks below, and it takes a crowd to do the job well. The one rule: plant in blocks rather than single rows, so pollen has a real chance of finding its mark.
Sow depth
1 in
Spacing
10 in · rows 2.5 ft
Sun
Full sun
Germination
7–10 days
Time to harvest
60–90 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow sweet corn
- Sow from about 1 week after your last expected frost until about 16 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow in blocks, not single rows — good pollination depends on it.Wait until soil has warmed well past frost risk before sowing.Sow seed a little deeper than usual to reach consistently moist soil.
Water deeply during tasseling and silking — this is the most drought-sensitive stage.Feed generously; corn is a hungry crop that depletes soil quickly.Stake or hill soil around the base of tall stalks in windy spots.
Check silks for a dry, browned appearance — a sign ears are ready.Pierce a kernel with a thumbnail; milky liquid means peak ripeness.Pick just before cooking, since sugars convert to starch quickly after harvest.
Companion plants
Keep fromTomatoes
The classic Three Sisters pairing works because beans climb the corn stalks while squash shades the soil below.
Watch out for
Corn earworm — Moths lay eggs on fresh silks in warm weather, and larvae burrow into the ear tip. A few drops of mineral oil on the silks after pollination deters them.