How to Plant and Grow Corn in Your Garden

Growing corn in your garden isn’t difficult with some warm weather, lots of sun, and plenty of space. Sweet corn is a fast grower, developing tall stalks with bright green leaves. In the home garden, one corn plant usually produces one or two ears, and you can choose varieties with yellow, white, bicolored (yellow and white), or even rainbow kernels. Here's everything you need to know about how to plant and grow corn in your garden.

Where to Plant Corn

Plant corn in a location that receives full sun and has rich, well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Because corn is wind-pollinated, it’s best to plant it in blocks rather than in a single row to ensure a good transfer of pollen to the silks.

Keep in mind that the tall stalks cast shade over shorter crops. Plant it next to crops that benefit from being shielded from the hot summer sun, such as lettuce or Asian greens. Avoid windy sites; strong winds can cause the tall stalks to fall over. If your site is windy, you can help prevent stalks from falling over by mounding soil around the lower 10 inches as the stalks grow.

How and When to Plant Corn

Sweet corn is a warm-season crop that matures between 60 and 100+ days. Plant corn seeds in late spring when there is no more danger of frost and the soil has warmed to at least 60°F to 65°F. Corn doesn’t transplant well, so sow the seed directly in the garden.

Plant the seeds 1 inch deep and space them 6 to 12 inches apart in the row. Plant blocks of four or more short rows spaced 30 inches apart for better pollination. For a steady supply of fresh corn, plant the same variety at 12- to 14-day intervals or plant multiple varieties that mature at different times. The days to maturity listed on seed packets vary widely with growing conditions. However, by comparing their days to maturity, you can select early, mid-season, and late-season varieties for an extended harvest season.

Sweet Corn Care Tips

Light

Sweet corn requires lots of sun. A minimum of six hours of full sun is necessary to develop full, plump kernels.

Soil and Water

Sweet corn thrives in rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It requires an inch of water per week, so supplement with irrigation when rainfall is inadequate. A steady supply of moisture encourages the development of larger, fatter ears. Mulching around the base of plants retains soil moisture.

Temperature and Humidity

Sweet corn thrives when temperatures are consistently warm. When spring temperatures are cool, seeds are slow to germinate and may rot in cool, wet soil. Humidity (high or low) is not usually a problem with sweet corn.

Fertilizer

Sweet corn is a heavy feeder, meaning it needs lots of nutrients to fuel its fast growth. Even in rich soil amended with compost, it needs additional fertilizer to perform well. Work well-rotted manure or compost into the soil along with a balanced fertilizer before planting. Side dress the rows with high-nitrogen fertilizer when the stalks reach about 8 inches tall and again when tassels begin to form.

Pests and Problems

A few pests can create problems for corn growers. Crows and other birds may peck the ground and steal the seeds before or as they germinate. Use a row cover secured with pins, soil, or rocks to protect young seedlings. Allow some space for growth, and remove the cover after three or four weeks.

European corn borers feed on silks and ears, and there are two generations each year. Since it overwinters in the corn stalks, remove old stalks from the garden after harvest. The corn earworm, which typically feeds on kernels near the tip of the ear, may have three generations per year. Turning the soil in the fall helps prevent infestation the following year. Parasitic wasps help control both the borer and the earworm.

Serious diseases are not common with sweet corn. However, a fungal disease known as smut occasionally infects ears and leaves, causing gray-black galls to form. Remove these if you see them to prevent spread. Resistant varieties are available.

Harvesting Sweet Corn

Ears of sweet corn are ready to harvest when the silks turn brown but the husks are still green. Test a kernel for ripeness by puncturing it with your fingernail. The juice should be milky looking, not clear. If it's clear, wait another few days to harvest the ear.

Types of Sweet Corn

‘Early Sunglow’

Zea mays ‘Early Sunglow’ is an excellent extra-early variety to grow where growing seasons are short and cool. Stalks only grow about 4 feet tall, but they produce full-sized 7-inch ears with yellow kernels and good flavor in about 63 days.

‘Kandy Korn’

Maturing in 89 days, ‘Kandy Korn’ is a late-season hybrid whose golden yellow kernels on 8-inch ears maintain their sweetness for 10 to 14 days after harvest. It has outstanding flavor. The stalks grow to 7–7 ½ feet tall.

‘Silver Choice’

Ready to harvest in about 75 days, Zea mays ‘Silver Choice’ is a hybrid that matures about two weeks earlier than the popular ‘Silver Queen’. Its white kernels are tender and sweet on 8-inch ears. The stalks grow to 7 feet.

‘Nirvana’

Zea mays ‘Nirvana’ is a high-yielding variety with supersweet bicolored kernels. The ears of this home garden favorite are uniformly 7 to 8 inches long and are ready for harvest in about 75 days.

Companion Plants for Corn

Corn is one of the “Three Sisters” crops—corn, climbing beans, and squash—that Native Americans traditionally grew together in hills. The beans climb the cornstalks and supply nitrogen to the soil through a process called nitrogen fixation. The large leaves of squash help shade the soil, reducing water evaporation. This is an early example of companion planting.

Beans

Several types of green beans are climbers that benefit from having support supplied by a pole, trellis, or corn stalk. Green beans are among the easiest vegetables to grow at home. You can even choose bean types that are purple or yellow instead of green for extra color in your garden and kitchen. Green beans share a need for plenty of sunlight and warmth with corn, so are excellent companion plants.

Summer Squash

Summer squash is another warm-weather crop that is best planted after balmy spring weather arrives. It requires fertile, well-draining soil to thrive. The squash leaves suppress weeds that would otherwise grow around nearby plants.

Marigolds

Marigolds repel an assortment of garden pests, including corn earworms and aphids. They also attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests. Several types and sizes are available. These plants are heat-lovers, but they bloom to frost when they are kept deadheaded.

Nasturtiums

Like marigolds, nasturtiums provide natural pest control. Among other pests, nasturtiums can keep the populations of aphids, whiteflies, and flea beetles in check, and they attract beneficial insects. This striking edible plant also adds a pretty splash of color.