Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant sweet corn in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is sweet corn's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 1Direct sowSpring
Apr 15Succession sowing 2Spring
Apr 29Succession 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.