fruit · direct sow
Popcorn: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating popcorn a few times a week needs about 15 plants in ~40 sq ft, worth about $11 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 ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 4 | ~11 sq ft | ~8 | ~$3 |
| 2 people | 8 | ~22 sq ft | ~15 | ~$6 |
| 4 people | 15 | ~40 sq ft | ~27 | ~$11 |
| 6 people | 22 | ~59 sq ft | ~39 | ~$17 |
Spacing
12" in row · 32" between rows
Sow depth
1.5"
Days to harvest
100 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 – Jul 14 | — |
Popcorn needs about 100 days and your first frost comes too early for that. Even the earliest date shown will not ripen outdoors here, grow it in a container you can move, or treat it as a short-season variety. | ||
| Zone 4 | May 17 – May 27 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Jun 6 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jun 16 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – Jun 4 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 1 – May 24 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 27 – Apr 21 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 7 – Apr 1 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Husks fully brown and kernels rock hard on the stalk. Pick, then cure indoors 2 to 4 weeks until test-pops come out full.
Yield
About 0.25 lbs per plant over ~2 productive weeks (~0.25 lb).
Watch for
Corn earworm · European corn borer · Aphids · Fall armyworm · Common rust, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with bush bean, squash.
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.
Popcorn keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Popcorn planting questions
How many popcorn plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 4 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 15 plants, which takes around 40 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does popcorn need?+
Space plants 12" apart in the row with 32" between rows. Sow 1.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant popcorn?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing popcorn worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.25 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $11 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.