How to grow Sweet Corn in Australia
Sow in full sun in rich, warm soil after frost. Plant in a block of several short rows so wind carries pollen to fill the cobs evenly.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 10 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 30 cm
- Time to harvest: 90 days
- Time to germinate: 7 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | August to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | Coastal follows SEQ. Inland, sow from September; corn seedlings are cut down by a late frost. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to January | Spring planting (Sept+); shorter season than tropical baseline. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow direct Oct to Dec once soil 20°C+. Frost-tender; Feb to Apr harvest before autumn frost. No winter sow. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to January | Sep starts undercover only. Direct sow Oct to Jan into warm soil in blocks for pollination. Water deeply through summer. |
| Perth & WA | August and September | Mediterranean: sow Aug to Sept only. Sweet corn fails in extreme summer heat; prefers spring-early summer establishment. |
| Tasmania | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec in the warmest spot. Early varieties only - cool summers slow ripening. Block plant for pollination. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Sow Nov to Dec into warm soil after the last frost in early November. Choose early maturing varieties; plant in blocks for pollination. |
| North Queensland | April to November | Dry season crop in NQ. Bowen and the Burdekin plant sweet corn Apr to Nov. Avoid the Dec to Mar monsoon peak. |
| Darwin & Top End | March to August | Dry season main window Mar to Aug per NT growers. A November sowing for a wet season crop is possible but risky. |
Varieties
- Honey Sweet F1
- Balinese
- True Gold
- Popcorn (Strawberry)
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ready when silks turn brown and a punctured kernel runs milky rather than clear. Twist and pull cobs down and off; flavour is best used soon after picking.
Storage
Fridge in husk, use within 2 days for best sweetness. Blanch and freeze kernels.