When to plant sweet corn
Short answer
Plant sweet corn about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | Jan 22 | Apr 7 |
| Zone 2 | — | Feb 22 | May 8 |
| Zone 3 | — | Mar 17 | May 31 |
| Zone 4 | — | Apr 6 | Jun 20 |
| Zone 5 | — | Apr 22 | Jul 6 |
| Zone 6 | — | May 7 | Jul 21 |
| Zone 7 | — | May 22 | Aug 5 |
| Zone 8 | — | Jun 8 | Aug 22 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Sweet corn is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for sweet corn
When to plant sweet corn comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Sweet corn is a tender crop, so it goes in about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22.
Sweet corn is usually sown straight into the ground — no indoor start needed. From there it's roughly 75 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for sweet corn ranges from about Mar 17 in warm zone 3 to May 22 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Sweet corn is tender — it waits until the soil warms after frost |
| Indoor start | Direct-sow — no indoor start needed |
| Days to harvest | About 75 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Needs warm soil — cold, wet ground stunts or rots it |
How sweet corn compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Sweet corn | Apr 22 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing sweet corn
- Don't rush sweet corn outside — cold soil stalls it. Wait until after your last spring frost and, ideally, until nights stay mild.
- Count roughly 75 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for sweet corn dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant sweet corn?
Plant sweet corn about 1 week after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 6 in zone 4 and May 7 in zone 6.
Can I direct sow sweet corn?
Yes — sweet corn is usually sown directly in the garden rather than started indoors.
How long until sweet corn is ready to harvest?
About 75 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, sweet corn planted around May 7 is typically ready near Jul 21.