Field guide
When to plant sweet corn in USDA Zones 11–13
In USDA Zones 11–13, the planner’s broad outdoor planting window for sweet corn runs from February to April. Sweet Corn takes 60–100 days from planting to first harvest.
Open plannerPlanting calendar for USDA Zones 11–13
- Spring planting
- February to April
- Fall planting
- Not recommended
- Days to harvest
- 60–100 days
- Water needs
- high
What USDA Zones 11–13 do—and do not—tell you
These zones span average annual extreme minimum temperatures of roughly 40°F to 70°F. That is useful climate context, but it does not determine your exact frost dates. Check a local forecast or county Extension calendar before planting tender crops.
How to know when to harvest
- Silks turn dark brown and dry
- Ears feel full and plump when squeezed through the husk
- Puncture a kernel — milky liquid means ready; clear means wait; pasty means past prime
Want a plan that accounts for your crops, growing method, equipment, and plant conditions? Open the free planner for a daily crop checklist and adaptive harvest forecast.
About this field guide
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