How to Grow Sweet Corn: When to Plant Corn in the US
Updated October 2026
A warm-season fruiting crop for the home garden.
Sweet Corn is a rewarding warm-season crop for backyard growers.
🌱 Plant profile: Sweet Corn, with sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.
When to Plant Sweet Corn in Your Region
Sweet corn is frost tender and needs warm soil. Florida, the Gulf South, the low desert and Texas sow in late winter and spring, the North sows in May or June after the last frost, and South Florida grows it from October to March. These are the planting months for each of our 18 regions, with each region's frost window. Each region links to its full vegetable planting calendar, and the Sweet Corn plant page shows the calendar for any region you pick.
| Region | Sow seed | Frost window and local note |
|---|---|---|
| North Florida | March to April | February 15 to December 5 |
| Central Florida | January to April | Effectively frost free |
| South Florida | October to March | Effectively frost free |
| Gulf South | March to April | February 25 to December 1 |
| Desert Southwest | February to March | February 5 to December 5 |
| Texas | March to April | March 1 to November 28 |
| Southern California | March to July | Effectively frost free |
| Mid-South | April to June | April 10 to October 25 |
| Pacific Northwest | May to June | March 25 to November 15 |
| Northeast & New England | May to June | May 10 to October 15 |
| Mid-Atlantic | May to July | April 15 to October 25 |
| Midwest & Great Lakes | May to June | April 30 to October 15 |
| Upper Midwest & Northern Plains | May to June | May 15 to September 25 |
| Mountain West | May to June | May 5 to September 30 |
| Southern Plains | May to July | April 10 to October 30 |
| Northern California & Central Valley | March to July | February 28 to November 17 |
| Hawaii | All year | Effectively frost free |
| Alaska | June | May 15 to September 10 |
The Pacific Northwest, the Northeast and New England, the Midwest, the Upper Midwest and the Mountain West plant sweet corn in May and June. North Florida, the Gulf South and Texas plant sweet corn in March and April. Southern California and Northern California plant sweet corn between March and July. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southern Plains plant sweet corn between May and July.
When to plant
Plant Sweet Corn in spring once the soil has warmed and all frost has passed. In the warmest regions a second crop is possible in late summer. See your region on the sweet corn page for exact timing.
Varieties
- Silver Queen, Classic late white sweet corn (Southern Exposure Seed Exchange)
- How Sweet It Is, Super-sweet white, holds well (Burpee)
How to grow it
- Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
- Spacing: about 12 in between plants.
- Sowing: sow about 1.25 in deep.
- Water: roughly 2.6 gal per plant every 2 days in hot weather.
Pests & problems
Watch for Corn earworm. In humid regions, Rust, Smut and Northern corn leaf blight can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.
Harvest
Sweet Corn is usually ready to harvest in about 3 months. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.
Sweet Corn at a glance
The planting figures for sweet corn from our plant data, converted to inches and Fahrenheit.
| Planting depth | 1 1/4 inches |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 12 inches |
| Days to come up | About 7 days |
| Soil temperature for sprouting | 64 to 90°F |
| Days to harvest | About 90 days |
| Frost | Frost tender |
| Container | Not recommended |
Sowing sweet corn
Sow sweet corn directly, about 1 1/4 inches deep, once the soil is warm; our plant data gives a range of 64 to 90°F and about 7 days to emerge. Plant a block of several short rows rather than one long row, with plants about 12 inches apart, so the wind carries pollen across the block and the cobs fill evenly. Keep sweet corn away from popcorn and other corn types, because cross pollination spoils the kernels.
Growing sweet corn in containers
Our plant data does not recommend sweet corn for containers: the plants grow tall, and a few plants in a pot cannot pollinate each other well.
How long does sweet corn take to grow?
Our plant data allows about 90 days from sowing to harvest. Corn is ready when the silks turn brown and a kernel pierced with a fingernail runs milky rather than clear. Twist the cob down and off, and eat it soon after picking for the best flavor.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant sweet corn?
The Pacific Northwest, the Northeast and New England, the Midwest, the Upper Midwest and the Mountain West plant sweet corn in May and June. North Florida, the Gulf South and Texas plant sweet corn in March and April. Southern California and Northern California plant sweet corn between March and July. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southern Plains plant sweet corn between May and July. The table on this page lists all 18 regions with their months.
How long does sweet corn take to grow?
Our plant data allows about 90 days from sowing to harvest, with seedlings up in about 7 days in warm soil.
Can I plant sweet corn in October?
Yes, in 2 of our 18 regions: South Florida and Hawaii. Everywhere else our calendar has no October planting for sweet corn; the table on this page shows each region's months.
How many rows of corn should I plant?
Plant a block of several short rows rather than a single long row. Corn is pollinated by wind, and a block lets the pollen reach every cob, which is what fills the kernels evenly.
When to plant in your region
Pick your region to see exactly when to plant sweet corn where you garden.
See also: Sweet Corn in the plant library →
Related guides
See what to plant this month
Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.
Find your region →Plant profile
The sweet corn profile has sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.