Sweet Corn
Zea mays
Sweet corn is a tender annual grass and a variety of maize grown as a warm-season garden crop. It forms a tall, single stalk topped by a feathery tassel, with husk-wrapped ears lower down.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular; critical during tasseling and ear fill
- Difficulty
- Easy
Got a plant like this?
Identify any plant from a photo, free.
Overview
Sweet corn is a variety of maize (Zea mays), a giant annual grass domesticated in Mexico thousands of years ago. It differs from field and flour corns by mutations affecting the kernels.
The plant grows as a tall, single-stemmed grass topped by a pollen-bearing tassel, with ears forming lower on the stalk. Pollination by wind is essential for fully filled cobs.
It is a popular warm-season crop in home gardens, valued for being quick and dramatic to grow.
How to identify it
- Habit: Tall, erect annual grass, commonly 1.5-2.5 m (5-8 ft)
- Stem: Single thick, jointed stalk (culm) with long, strap-shaped leaves
- Tassel: Feathery male flower cluster at the top, releasing pollen
- Ears: Female flowers form ears in the leaf axils, wrapped in husks with silks emerging from the tip
- Kernels: Rows of plump kernels (yellow, white or bicolor) on the cob
Care & growing
Light: Full sun is essential.
Water: Needs steady moisture, especially during tasseling, silking and kernel fill; drought at these stages causes gaps and poor ears.
Soil: Rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter; pH 6.0-6.8.
Temperature: Warm-season crop; sow after frost when soil reaches about 16°C (60°F).
Feeding: Heavy nitrogen feeder; side-dress as the plants grow tall.
Propagation: Direct-sow seed in blocks of several short rows rather than one long row to ensure good wind pollination.
Habitat & origin
Maize was domesticated from the wild grass teosinte in southern Mexico roughly 9,000 years ago and became the foundational crop of the Americas.
Sweet corn as a distinct type was developed more recently and is now grown throughout temperate and subtropical regions in summer. It is a backyard-garden staple across North America and increasingly grown worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my corn cobs only partly filled?
Incomplete pollination is the usual cause. Plant corn in blocks rather than single rows so wind-blown pollen reaches more silks.
Can I grow different corn types side by side?
It is best not to. Cross-pollination between sweet corn and field or popcorn can affect the kernels, so separate types or stagger planting times.
How tall does sweet corn grow?
It is a tall grass, commonly 1.5 to 2.5 m (5 to 8 ft), with a single thick, jointed stalk and long, strap-shaped leaves.
What is the tassel on top of corn?
The feathery tassel at the top is the male flower cluster that releases pollen; the female flowers form the ears lower on the stalk.
Sweet Corn guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Sweet Corn.
