Planting guide · zone 9b
When to plant sweet corn in zone 9b
In zone 9b, the average last spring frost is Feb 14 and the first fall frost is Dec 12. Here is sweet corn's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 21Direct sowSpring
Mar 7Succession sowing 2Spring
Mar 21Succession 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.