fruit · direct sow
Sweet Corn: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating sweet corn a few times a week needs about 8 plants in ~22 sq ft, worth about $20 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 ~$2.50/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~6 sq ft | ~4 | ~$5 |
| 2 people | 4 | ~11 sq ft | ~8 | ~$10 |
| 4 people | 8 | ~22 sq ft | ~15 | ~$20 |
| 6 people | 11 | ~30 sq ft | ~20 | ~$28 |
Spacing
12" in row · 32" between rows
Sow depth
1.5"
Days to harvest
75 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 – Aug 21 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Aug 16 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Aug 6 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jul 27 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – Jul 12 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 1 – Jul 1 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 27 – May 29 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 7 – May 9 | — |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 2 counts per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~1 lb). Re-sow every ~10 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Corn earworm · European corn borer · Aphids — 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, winter-squash.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
86 kcal · 2 g fiber · 6.8 mg vitamin C · 270 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.