fruit · direct sow
Dent (grinding) Corn: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating dent (grinding) corn a few times a week needs about 11 plants in ~30 sq ft, worth about $6 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$1.50/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~8 sq ft | ~6 | ~$2 |
| 2 people | 6 | ~16 sq ft | ~11 | ~$3 |
| 4 people | 11 | ~30 sq ft | ~20 | ~$6 |
| 6 people | 16 | ~43 sq ft | ~29 | ~$8 |
Spacing
12" in row · 32" between rows
Sow depth
1.5"
Days to harvest
110 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 22 – Jun 29 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Jun 24 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Jun 14 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jun 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – May 20 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 1 – May 9 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 27 – Apr 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 7 – Mar 17 | — |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.35 lbs per plant over ~2 productive weeks (~0.35 lb).
Neighbors
Plays well with bush-bean, winter-squash.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
365 kcal · 7.3 g fiber · 0 mg vitamin C · 287 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.
Corn, dent (grinding) cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household — and how long it keeps.