Plant Corn in Zone 3a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 3a

Direct sow

May 22

Harvest (~75d)

Aug 5

Zone 3a averages 123 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 15 to a first fall frost around September 15. Corn needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 61 percent of that window. Corn is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.

Corn resents transplanting and hates cold soil, so direct sow around May 22, after the Zone 3a last frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

Fall planting: corn in Zone 3a

Corn has no useful fall window in Zone 3a. Sweet corn pollinates badly in short, cool autumn days, so a fall planting rarely fills out.

Sweet corn pollinates badly in short, cool autumn days, so a fall planting rarely fills out.

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 3a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.

Spring vs fall corn in Zone 3a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	May 22	May 22	Aug 5
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

May 15

First fall frost

Sep 15

Growing season

123 days

Corn in nearby zones

Corn in Zone 3b (warmer) Full Corn grow guide Zone 3a planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 3a

Tomatoes in Zone 3a Peppers in Zone 3a Cucumbers in Zone 3a Lettuce in Zone 3a Zucchini in Zone 3a Carrots in Zone 3a Beans (bush) in Zone 3a Peas in Zone 3a Broccoli in Zone 3a Spinach in Zone 3a Kale in Zone 3a Onions in Zone 3a Garlic in Zone 3a Potatoes in Zone 3a Squash (winter) in Zone 3a Radishes in Zone 3a Beets in Zone 3a Eggplant in Zone 3a Basil in Zone 3a Cilantro in Zone 3a Parsley in Zone 3a Pumpkins in Zone 3a Sunflowers in Zone 3a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start corn in Zone 3a?

Direct sow outdoors around May 22.

Can I direct sow corn in Zone 3a?

Yes, direct sow around May 22.

Can I plant corn in the fall in Zone 3a?