How to grow sweet corn in a raised bed
Plant in a block, not one row, so the plants pollinate each other.
Spacing4 plants per square foot
How to startSow seeds right in the bed
When to plantAbout 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 75 days
Grows toAbout 6 ft tall
When to plant sweet corn in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | Jun 3 | — |
| Zone 3b | — | May 29 | — |
| Zone 4a | — | May 26 | — |
| Zone 4b | — | May 22 | — |
| Zone 5a | — | May 18 | — |
| Zone 5b | — | May 12 | — |
| Zone 6a | — | May 6 | — |
| Zone 6b | — | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 7a | — | Apr 22 | — |
| Zone 7b | — | Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 8a | — | Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 8b | — | Mar 29 | — |
| Zone 9a | — | Mar 15 | — |
| Zone 9b | — | Mar 1 | — |
| Zone 10a | — | Feb 14 | — |
| Zone 10b | — | Jan 29 | — |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant 4 plants in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It grows tall, so put it on the north side of the bed where it will not shade shorter plants.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy sweet corn seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your sweet corn go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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