Sweet corn, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none |
| Plant out. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Cover the sweet corn with a cloche or fleece. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Pollinate the sweet corn by hand. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none |
| Pick the sweet corn. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
| Clear away the dead sweet corn stems and leaves. | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover April to May, 2.5cm deep. Strong source: RHS.
Sow outdoors in May, 2.5cm deep, 34 to 45cm apart, rows 34 to 45cm apart. Strong sources: Mr Fothergill’s and RHS.
Plant out May to June, 34 to 45cm apart, rows 40cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Mr Fothergill’s.
Cover the sweet corn with a cloche or fleece
Warm the soil before sowing, then keep the cover on to shelter the young plants.
Usually February to May, and September to November. Moderate source: RHS.
Pollinate the sweet corn by hand
Once the tassels at the top open, tap the stems to shake pollen down onto the female flowers. From RHS.
Usually July. Moderate source: Dobies.
Pick the sweet corn
Usually August. Strong source: RHS.
Clear away the dead sweet corn stems and leaves
Cut the stems at the base and lay them on the soil as a mulch; compost them once brown.
Usually October. Moderate source: Suttons.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Sweet corn” comes from.