Sweet corn planting calendar
When to plant sweet corn — pick your state
Sweet corn timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant sweet corn?
Sweet corn is direct-sown only — it resents root disturbance and transplants very poorly. Sow in blocks of at least 4 rows (not single rows) for adequate wind pollination, 7-14 days after the last frost once soil temperature reaches 16 °C (60 °F). In short-season zones (5-6), warm-season su/se types reaching maturity in 70-75 days are most reliable; avoid extra-sweet sh2 varieties below 18 °C as germination fails. Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest, but do not mix different types within 400 metres to prevent cross-pollination that causes starchy kernels. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant sweet corn vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives sweet corn dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these sweet corn planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for sweet corn's cold tolerance and days to maturity.