Sweet corn garden spacing calculator

Planting sweet corn

How it is worked out

• In a raised bed, sweet corn stand 15 in apart each way, which is 1.6 sq ft to a plant. Every plant is within reach of the bed’s edge, so no room is kept for paths.
• In the ground, they stand 10 in apart in rows 36 in apart, with room to walk and hoe between the rows.
• Plants are kept half a spacing in from the bed’s edge, and the rows are centred in the bed.
• Each plant is drawn at the size it grows to, 7 ft tall and 2.5 ft wide, so you can see how the bed fills in.
• Corn is pollinated by the wind, so a block of short rows fills its ears better than one long row.
• A raised bed’s soil is its length times its width times the height of its frame. The frame is counted in 2×6 boards, one course round the bed for every 5½ in of height.
• Mulch for a bed in the ground is its area times the depth you choose.
• Row spacing and planting depth follow the home garden guides of Clemson and the University of Florida extension services. Raised bed spacing follows Virginia Cooperative Extension’s intensive spacing.

We set out and count the plants and spacing you pick, close enough to plan a weekend and a trip to the nursery. The plant’s tag and the place you live settle how far apart it wants to be.

Questions

How far apart do you plant sweet corn?

15 in apart each way in a raised bed. In the ground, 10 in apart in rows 36 in apart.

How many sweet corn fit in a 4 × 8 ft raised bed?

18, at 15 in apart each way with half a spacing left at the edges.

How deep do you plant sweet corn?

Seed, 1 in deep.

How long do sweet corn take to grow?

80–95 days.

How big do sweet corn get?

About 7 ft tall and 2.5 ft wide. They want full sun.