Corn (Natural Sweet)
other
- 2026 · Bed A
- Spacing
- 12 in(1 / sqft)
- Trellis
- no
- Direct seed
- Apr 15(at frost)
- Harvest
- ~9–12 weeks from sowing
- Succession
- every 2-3 weeks
- Water
- 1-2 per week
- Seed shelf life
- 1–2 y
- Lifecycle
- annual
- Seed source
- Johnny's Selected Seeds
Wind-pollinated — plant in blocks of at least 4 rows (not a single long row) for filled ears. Direct seed only when soil hits 60°F. Sweet corn seed loses viability fast; buy fresh each year. SFG 12 in / 1 per sqft is denser than Johnny's commercial 6-9 in (which then thins to 1 plant per cluster).
First time growing sweet corn.
Natural Sweet is an old-fashioned, open-pollinated sweet corn — pre-supersweet, so the flavor depends on eating it fast. Direct-seeded in mid-May once soil was reliably above 60°F.
- May 23, 2026
First seedlings up (May 24) Single grass-like blade poking through. Slow start while soil temp catches up; once it gets going it accelerates fast.