Publication 426-405

Sweet Corn
Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Horticulture, Virginia Tech
Alan McDaniel, Extension Specialist, Horticulture, Virginia Tech
Reviewed by John Freeborn, Assistant Master Gardener Coordinator, Horticulture, Virginia Tech

Environmental Preferences corn will almost always be the highest quality, since cool
nights in September increase sugar content.
LIGHT: sunny
Pollination is a very important consideration in planting
HARDINESS: tender annual sweet corn. Because corn is wind-pollinated, block
plantings of at least three to four short rows will
SOIL: deep, well-drained loam be pollinated more successfully than one or two
long rows. Good pollination is essential for full
FERTILITY: rich kernel development.
pH: 6.0 to 7.0 Most of the various types of corn will cross
pollinate readily. To maintain the desirable
TEMPERATURES: warm (60 to 75F)
characteristics and high quality, extra-sweet
MOISTURE: average and standard-sweet corn should be isolated
from each other. A distance of 250 feet or
planting so that maturity dates are two
Culture weeks apart is necessary to ensure
this isolation. Sweet corn
PLANTING: seed after danger of frost is past; plantings must be isolated
extra-sweet varieties should be planted when from field corn, popcorn,
soil temperatures reach 65F. and ornamental corn as
well. White and yellow
SPACING: 9 to 12 inches x 24 to 36 inches; types will also cross polli-
minimum of three rows side by side (preferably nate, but the results are not
four rows) to ensure good pollination as drastic.
FERTILIZER NEEDS: heavy feeder; sidedress The newly developed
when plants are 12 to 18 inches high with extra-sweet or super-sweet
3 tablespoons 10‑10‑10 per 10 feet of row. types convert sugar into
starch more slowly than
standard varieties. They
Cultural Practices: are not necessarily sweeter
Sweet corn varieties differ significantly in time to ma- than just-picked old favorites (though some cultivars are),
turity and in quality; yellow, white, bi-color, standard, and but they will retain their sweetness after harvest longer
extra-sweet varieties are available. Most varieties planted than usual. Super-sweet varieties may be less creamy
are hybrids which have been bred for greater vigor and than standard varieties due to genetic differences. This
higher yields. A continuous harvest can be planned by characteristic decreases the quality of frozen or canned
planting early, mid-season, and late-season varieties or by super-sweet corn, though newer cultivars of extra-sweets
making successive plantings of the same variety every two show improvement.
weeks or when the last planting has three to four leaves
Early maturing varieties tend to be relatively small
(corn sown in early spring will take longer because of
plants (called “coon corn” by old-timers because the ears
cool temperatures). Use only the earliest varieties for July
are easy for raccoons to reach). These should be planted
plantings to ensure a good fall crop. Fall-maturing sweet
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Produced by Communications and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2015
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation,
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 in rows 30 inches apart with plants 8 to 9 inches apart. Common Problems
For medium to large plant varieties, use a 36-inch row
spacing with plants 12 inches apart in the row. Be sure to DISEASES: Stewart’s wilt (bacterial disease spread by
plant a block of rows for good pollination and full ears. flea beetle); smut (especially on white varieties); stunt
(transmitted by leafhopper)
Some gardeners are interested in growing “baby corn,”
such as that found in salad bars and gourmet sections of INSECTS: corn earworm, European corn borer, flea beetle,
the grocery store. Baby corn is immature corn, and many Japanese beetle (eats silks), corn sap beetle (damages
varieties are suitable, but 'Candystick', with its 1/4-inch kernels after husk is loosened)
cob diameter at maturity, is a good one to try, especially
since its dwarf habit means it takes up less space in the OTHER: birds eating seed, raccoons eating mature ears of
garden. Harvesting at the right time is tricky; silks will have corn, gardener’s impatience (picking too soon)
been produced, but ears not filled out yet. Experimentation
is the best way to determine when to harvest baby corn. CULTURAL: poor kernel development (failure to fill out to
the tip) caused by dry weather during silking stages, planting
It is not necessary to remove “suckers” or side shoots too close, poor fertility (especially potassium deficiency), or
that form on sweet corn. With adequate fertility, these too few rows in block resulting in poor pollination. Lodging
suckers may increase yield, and removing them has been (falling over) from too much nitrogen.
shown, in some cases, to actually decrease yield.

Mulching is a useful practice in corn growing because

Harvesting and Storage
adequate moisture is required from pollination to harvest DAYS TO MATURITY: 63 to 100
to guarantee that ears are well filled. Since main crops of
corn usually ripen during Virginia’s drier periods, it is es- HARVEST: when husk is still green, silks dry-brown,
pecially critical to maintain soil water supplies. Mulching kernels full size, and yellow or white color to the tip of
reduces the need for supplemental watering and keeps the the ear; and at “milky” stage (use thumbnail to puncture a
moisture content of the soil fairly constant. Most organic kernel - if liquid is clear the corn is immature, if milky it’s
mulches are suitable; newspaper held down with a heavier ready, and if no sap, you’re too late). Cover unharvested
material on top is an excellent moisture conserver in corn. ears checked by this method with paper bag to prevent
insect or bird damage. Experienced gardeners can feel the
Normally, sweet corn is ready for harvest about 20 outside of the husk and tell when the cob has filled out.
days after the first silks appear. Corn that is going to Corn matures 17 to 24 days after first silk strands appear;
be stored for a day or two should be picked in the cool more quickly in hot weather, slower in cool weather.
temperatures of early morning to prevent the ears from
building up an excess of field heat, which causes a more APPROXIMATE YIELDS (per 10-foot row): 5 to 10
rapid conversion of sugars to starch. Of course, the best pounds or roughly 10 to 20 ears
time to pick is just before eating the corn; country cooks
say to have the pot of water coming to a boil as you are AMOUNT TO RAISE PER PERSON: 20 to 30 pounds
picking the corn, husking it on the way from the garden or about 40 to 60 ears
to the house! This is an exaggeration, but with standard
varieties, sugar conversion is rather rapid. Field heat can STORAGE: refrigerate immediately to prevent sugars from
be removed from ears picked when temperatures are high turning to starch; cold (32F), moist (95% RH) conditions;
by plunging the ears into ice water or putting them on ice will keep four to eight days, but standard varieties will
for a short time. Then store in the refrigerator until ready become starchy after a few days
to use. Extra-sweet varieties will also benefit from this
treatment, but they are not as finicky. PRESERVATION: frozen on cob or off; canned

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