How to Grow Sweet Corn in Australia
A warm-season fruiting crop for the home garden
Growing Sweet Corn rewards a little local know-how, and in the right season the plants do most of the work for you. It is rated intermediate to grow. Saves ~$2-4/cob, homegrown corn is dramatically sweeter than supermarket.
This guide covers when to plant Sweet Corn in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Sweet Corn is a warm-season crop, frost-tender and needs a frost-free run. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in August, September, October, November, December, January and February. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Honey Sweet F1
Australian favourite supersweet. Tall, vigorous, fat yellow cobs. The Bunnings punnet standard.
Try: Yates, Mr Fothergill's, Bunnings
Balinese
Purple and yellow kernels on small cobs. Heirloom, not as sweet but striking. Kids love it.
Try: Eden Seeds, Green Harvest
True Gold
Old-fashioned sweetness, less sugary than supersweets, more corn flavour. Eden Seeds heirloom.
Try: Eden Seeds, Diggers
Popcorn (Strawberry)
Small red cobs that dry down for popcorn. Ornamental AND functional. Same care as sweet corn.
Try: Eden Seeds, Green Harvest
Position and Soil
Give Sweet Corn full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 6 to 7. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It needs an open garden bed rather than a pot, getting too big or deep-rooted for containers.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed about 3 cm deep. Thin or space plants to about 30 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 7 days, fastest when the soil is between 18 and 32 degrees.
Plant in a block (not a row) of at least 4×4 for proper wind pollination. Hungry feeder, dig manure in first.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 10 L per plant every 2 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Corn earworm and Heliothis. The main diseases to watch are Rust, Smut and Northern corn leaf blight. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Sweet Corn is typically ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months). Fridge in husk, use within 2 days for best sweetness. Blanch and freeze kernels.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, sweet corn is good grilled on the BBQ with butter, kernels cut for salads and salsas, made into fritters or corn chowder and roasted and eaten straight from the cob. Nutritionally: good source of carbohydrates and fibre and contains lutein for eye health.
Companion Planting
Sweet Corn grows well alongside Beans, Pumpkin, Zucchini and Cucumber. Keep it away from Tomato. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Sweet Corn Growing
Add sweet corn to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sweet Corn in Australia?
Sweet Corn is a warm-season crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in August, September, October, November, December, January and February. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Sweet Corn take to grow?
Sweet Corn is generally ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months).
Can I grow Sweet Corn in a pot?
It is best grown in an open garden bed rather than a pot, needing more root room than a container gives.
How much sun does Sweet Corn need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
See also: Sweet Corn in the Plant Library
