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
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed

October: After risk of frost

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
09 Jun 08, drew (Unknown climate)
In Adelaide, around the inner suburbs, corn can be started as early as late june, if you put a frame around the seedlings and cover most of it with glad wrap, (put one inch holes around the bottom).
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Jan 08, sarita (Unknown climate)
i wsih to plant some corn now am i too late or is it ok likving in cranbourne, where can we get good biclour variety n r they gm or gm free. what about hte su or se variety.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 431 - 432 of 432 comments
See comments for all plants

Hmmm, Ryan. Corn, as you know, pollinates when the dust from the tassles at the top falls on the silks. Often in the sub tropics, the air is too moist and makes the dust fall straight down to the ground, and it's viability is very short. Maybe you could cut off a tassle carefully, put it straight into a plastic bag, bring it inside with the bag open, just to get rid of a bit of moisture, and then hand pollinate by shaking the bag over the silks of the other corn, or getting a brush and lightly brushing it onto the silks.

- adam

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 GardenGrow 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 GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | 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. GardenGrow 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.