Corn: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Corn with this frost date , direct sow ~Apr 22 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About corn
Sweet corn demands space but delivers an unmatched just-picked sweetness within minutes of harvest that no store-bought ear can match.
Spacing & yield
Corn wants 10×30 inches and about 0.5 lb per plant at ~80 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than long single rows for reliable wind pollination.
- Sow 1 week after last frost when soil is at least 60 F for rapid germination.
- Side-dress with nitrogen when plants reach knee height for strong ear development.
- Succession-plant every 2 weeks or choose early, mid, and late varieties for extended harvest.
Common mistakes
- Planting in single long rows, causing poor pollination and patchy ears.
- Sowing too early into cold soil, resulting in spotty germination.
- Ignoring raccoons and birds — electric fence or netting is essential near harvest.
Harvest & storage
Pick ears when silks are brown and dry and a kernel punctured with a fingernail releases milky juice, about 80 days from sowing.
Eat or process immediately — sugars convert to starch within hours; husk and blanch for freezer storage.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for corn: beans, squash, cucumbers, peas, melons. Avoid planting beside: tomatoes, celery.
Planting calendar
Direct sow about 1 weeks after your last spring frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should corn be planted?
- Space 10 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart, planted in blocks of at least 4 rows for pollination.
- How much corn does one stalk produce?
- Each stalk produces about 0.5 lb of edible kernels, typically 1-2 ears depending on variety.
- When should corn be planted?
- Direct sow 1 week after last frost once soil reaches 60 F — corn will not germinate in cold ground.