Classic summer crop that tastes best harvested fresh. Plant in blocks rather than rows for proper wind pollination. A rewarding but space-hungry garden crop.
Planting calendar
Direct sow / transplant
2 weeks after your last spring frost.
Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows for pollination; succession plant every 2 weeks for staggered harvest
Spacing & harvest
Plant spacing: 10-12 inches
Row spacing: 30-36 inches
Days to harvest: 60-100 days
Ready when: Silk turns brown and dry, kernels release milky juice when punctured with a fingernail
Companion planting
Plant near
Green Bean — Classic Three Sisters -- beans fix nitrogen and climb corn stalks
Zucchini — Three Sisters -- squash shades soil and deters pests
Tomato — Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm
Get sweet corn planting dates for your exact zone
Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.