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 – Jun 25 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Jul 5 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Jul 15 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jul 25 | — |
| 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 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
Silks brown and dry, ears filled to a blunt tip. Peel back a strip: puncture a kernel and it should squirt milky juice.
Don't wait: Clear juice means wait; doughy paste means it is past prime and starchy. Prime window is only a few days per ear.
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 · 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.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
86 kcal · 2 g fiber · 6.8 mg vitamin C · 270 mg potassium
When to plant sweet corn in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys sweet cornto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
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.
Sweet Corn cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Sweet Corn planting questions
How many sweet corn plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 2 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 8 plants, which takes around 22 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does sweet corn 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 sweet corn?+
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 sweet corn worth it?+
At about $2.50/lb retail and ~1 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $20 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.