Growing Sweet corn, also corn,maize

Zea mays, var. rugosa : Poaceae / the grass family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S           S S S S S S
T T T         T T T T T
P P           P P P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Celery.

Your comments and tips

02 Nov 10, Sandy (Australia - temperate climate)
Sometimes a caterpillar will eat off the base of the silks - making them look ripened. Will also eat the corn. Corn love Nitrogen, Zinc and water especially early. Beans grown up corn is good, but the beans don't put much nitrogen in until they die off.. I also grow cucumber/gherkins/lebanese cucumber under the corn. 3 crops in one.
28 Oct 10, Merlijn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew corn for the first time from seedlings. The cobs are now still very small but the silky threads have gone brown. So I pulled a cob off thinking it must be ripe, but there are only a few corn kernels on the cob. Have I left them too long? How do I know if they are ready for picking?? They've had plenty of water (we've had a wet spring in Brisbane!) Any ideas??
20 Oct 10, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i only take the one main cob off the corn then pull the plant and compost it. any subsequent cobs are usually small and spindly, and in my opinion not worth the bother. cheers
20 Sep 10, Jay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
traditionally corn has been used as a climbing post for peas as the peas put nitrogen back into the soil that the corn has taken out. My question is that corn and peas are opposite planting times so how does this work? Anyone?
01 Oct 10, grace (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
beans not peas, they are a summer crop.
20 Sep 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Perhaps growing climbing beans with corn would work?
11 Apr 10, chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i grew my first bunch of corn last season but was not very succesful i grew them from a punnet that i brought.... this year i will plant by seed would it be better to plant direct or sow in seed trays? :) x
18 May 10, dave (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i have found it best to plant your corn from seed the seedlings dont seem to like to be transplanted they are almost sertain to die.plus i always soak my seeds in tepid water overnight to encourige germination.
19 May 10, Wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
I found exactly the same - corn seedlings from the garden shop invariably die or do poorly. Much better to start from seed.
30 May 10, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
Corn don't transplant well. Direct sowing is much better.
Showing 251 - 260 of 323 comments

Please what are the requirements for growing sweet corn in the tropics

- Safoa

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.