Crops › Sweet Corn
How to grow Sweet Corn
in the US
Sow April to June, harvest June to October. About 80 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Sweet corn is a proper rewarding crop. It's fantastic to pick it fresh, straight from the stalk, and cook it up right away. On my plot, it always feels a bit special to see those tall plants swaying in the breeze.
Sowing
Sweet corn likes warm feet, you know what I mean, so hold off sowing until all danger of last frost has passed and the ground's properly warmed up, at least 60°F. Depending on your USDA zone, this could be anywhere from February right through to July. Pop the seeds about an inch deep and 6-8 inches apart. For better pollination and proper cobs, plant them in a block rather than a long single row. Like I say, aim for about 80 days from sowing to harvest, so if you want a continuous supply, sow a small batch every couple of weeks.
Growing on
Once your seedlings are up and growing strong, thin them out to give each plant about a foot of space. Sweet corn gets pretty tall, but it's generally self-supporting, especially when grown in a block. You won't need to be faffing about with stakes or anything like that. Just let them get on with it, soaking up the sun.
Looking after it
Sweet corn plants are thirsty things, especially when the cobs are forming, so make sure they get plenty of water. A good mulch around the base can help keep that moisture in and keep the weeds down a bit. They're hungry too, so a feed with a balanced fertilizer when they're about knee-high will give them a good boost.
What goes wrong
Raccoons can be a right nuisance, they love sweet corn as much as we do, so you might need a bit of fencing or netting to keep them out. Things like corn earworms and borers can get inside the cobs, so keep an eye out and deal with them as soon as you spot them. Aphids can be a problem too, a quick spray with soapy water usually sorts them.
Harvest
You'll know your sweet corn is ready when the silks turn brown and dry, and the cobs feel plump. Peel back a bit of the husk and poke a kernel; if a milky liquid comes out, it's ready. Pick them quick with a sharp twist and pull, then get them straight into the kitchen. The quicker you eat them, the sweeter they'll be, as the sugar turns to starch. For gluts, refrigerate cobs in their husks, or blanch and freeze them.
I always reckon a good way to get a cracking crop is to enrich the soil with plenty of compost before you even think about sowing. It makes a real difference to those hungry plants.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Silver Queen Silver Queen is a classic white sweet corn, proper old-fashioned flavor that folks have loved for years. It's a great choice if you're after a traditional taste and a reliable harvest for the kitchen. | No club votes yet |
| Golden Bantam Golden Bantam offers lovely golden cobs with a sweet, tender bite, a real favorite for many gardeners. If you're looking for a dependable, easy-to-grow sweet corn, this one's a cracking option. | No club votes yet |
| Honey Select Honey Select gives you super sweet, bicolored cobs that are just bursting with flavor, a modern hybrid that performs well. It's ideal for anyone who wants a really sugary treat straight from the garden. | No club votes yet |
| Peaches & Cream Peaches & Cream is another fantastic bicolored variety, with a lovely mix of yellow and white kernels that look as good as they taste. This one is perfect for gardeners who appreciate both visual appeal and a sweet, tender texture. | No club votes yet |
| Incredible As the name suggests, Incredible is known for its impressive yields of large, very sweet yellow cobs. If you're aiming for a big harvest of classic sweet corn, this variety certainly won't let you down. | No club votes yet |
| Ambrosia Ambrosia is a popular choice for its incredibly sweet, bicolored kernels and consistent performance in the garden. It's a solid all-rounder for anyone wanting a generous supply of delicious sweet corn. | No club votes yet |
| Serendipity Serendipity is a unique 'triple sweet' variety, offering a wonderful balance of sweetness and traditional corn flavor. It’s a great pick if you're after something a bit special with excellent eating quality. | No club votes yet |
| Bodacious Bodacious lives up to its name with robust plants that produce large, bright yellow cobs, packed with that classic sweet corn taste. This variety is a top performer for those who like a proper, hearty sweet corn. | No club votes yet |
| Honey n' Pearl Honey n' Pearl gives you beautiful bicolored cobs that are exceptionally sweet and tender, maturing reliably in the garden. It’s a fantastic choice for home gardeners looking for consistent quality and a delightful taste. | No club votes yet |
| Jubilee Jubilee is a highly regarded yellow sweet corn variety, known for its uniform cobs and reliable sweet flavor. It's a dependable option for a steady supply of classic sweet corn throughout the season. | No club votes yet |
| Kandy Korn Kandy Korn is celebrated for its extra-sweet, tender yellow kernels and good cold soil emergence, which is a bonus. If you're looking for a sweet corn that performs well even in slightly cooler spring conditions, this is a cracking one. | No club votes yet |
| Sugar Buns Sugar Buns produces very sweet, tender yellow cobs that are perfect for fresh eating, often maturing a bit earlier than some other maincrops. This variety is brilliant if you want to get your sweet corn harvest going a little sooner. | No club votes yet |
| Trinity Trinity is an early-maturing variety with excellent sweetness and tender yellow kernels, great for getting a quick crop. If you're keen to enjoy your sweet corn a bit earlier in the season, Trinity is a grand choice. | No club votes yet |
| Vision Vision offers superb eating quality with super sweet, tender yellow cobs that come in good numbers. It's a reliable maincrop that's well-suited for anyone wanting consistent, high-quality sweet corn. | No club votes yet |
| Providence Providence is a robust variety known for its large, flavorful yellow cobs and strong plant vigor. It's a cracking choice for a substantial harvest of traditional sweet corn that stands up well in the garden. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Sweet Corn seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | June to July | August to September |
| Zone 4 | May to June | July to September |
| Zone 5 | May to June | July to October |
| Zone 6 | April to June | June to October |
| Zone 7 | April to July | June to November |
| Zone 8 | March to July | May to November |
| Zone 9 | February to August | April to November |
| Zone 10 | January to September | March to December |
Cook the harvest
Elotes are the ultimate celebration of peak-season sweet corn — grilled in the husk, then slathered with a tangy mayo-crema blend, dusted with chili powder and cotija cheese, and finished with a squeeze of lime. This classic Mexican street food has become a summer staple across North America for good reason. The smoky char of the grill and the creamy, spicy toppings elevate simple corn into something truly memorable.
25 min · easyA luxurious coastal chowder that pairs the natural sweetness of fresh summer corn with delicate lump crab meat in a rich, cream-enriched broth. Inspired by the Chesapeake Bay tradition of Old Bay seasoning, this recipe brings together two quintessential American summer ingredients in a soup that is elegant enough for company but simple enough for a weeknight. The crab goes in right at the end to keep it tender and sweet.
50 min · mediumThis no-churn-style custard ice cream extracts the pure milky sweetness of summer corn by steeping the stripped cobs and blended kernels directly into the cream base. The result is a pale golden, surprisingly complex dessert with a flavor that is unmistakably corn — sweet, fresh, and faintly grassy — without being novelty. It surprises people and converts them in one taste, making it one of the most memorable ways to use peak-season corn.
45 min · mediumThis thick, satisfying chowder packs sweet summer corn and creamy Yukon Gold potatoes into a rich, smoky broth finished with a swirl of heavy cream. It is equally good hot from the stovetop in late summer or reheated on a cool early-fall evening.
45 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: beans, peas, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins
Questions people ask
When do you sow Sweet Corn in the US?
Sow Sweet Corn from April to June in zone 6, earlier or later by zone.
How long does Sweet Corn take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 80 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Sweet Corn varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Silver Queen, Golden Bantam, Honey Select, Peaches & Cream and more.
Track your Sweet Corn from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.