Planting guide · zone 7a
When to plant sweet corn in zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average last spring frost is Apr 12 and the first fall frost is Oct 29. Here is sweet corn's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 19Direct sowSpring
May 3Succession sowing 2Spring
May 17Succession sowing 3Spring
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
The heaviest nitrogen feeder in the garden — rich soil, side-dress when knee-high.
Seedling care
Direct sow in warm soil; cold ground gives patchy stands.
Growing notes
Plant in blocks of at least 4 short rows, never one long row — corn is wind-pollinated and needs neighbors on all sides for full ears.
Harvest
When silks are brown and dry, pierce a kernel: milky juice means ready. Roughly 20 days after silks first appear.