Plant Corn in Zone 4a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4a

Direct sow

May 17

Harvest (~75d)

Jul 31

Zone 4a averages 135 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 10 to a first fall frost around September 22. Corn needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 56 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 17, after the Zone 4a last frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

Fall planting: corn in Zone 4a

Corn has no useful fall window in Zone 4a. 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 4a 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 4a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	May 17	May 17	Jul 31
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

May 10

First fall frost

Sep 22

Growing season

135 days

Corn in nearby zones

Corn in Zone 3b (colder) Corn in Zone 4b (warmer) Full Corn grow guide Zone 4a planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 4a

Tomatoes in Zone 4a Peppers in Zone 4a Cucumbers in Zone 4a Lettuce in Zone 4a Zucchini in Zone 4a Carrots in Zone 4a Beans (bush) in Zone 4a Peas in Zone 4a Broccoli in Zone 4a Spinach in Zone 4a Kale in Zone 4a Onions in Zone 4a Garlic in Zone 4a Potatoes in Zone 4a Squash (winter) in Zone 4a Radishes in Zone 4a Beets in Zone 4a Eggplant in Zone 4a Basil in Zone 4a Cilantro in Zone 4a Parsley in Zone 4a Pumpkins in Zone 4a Sunflowers in Zone 4a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start corn in Zone 4a?

Direct sow outdoors around May 17.

Can I direct sow corn in Zone 4a?

Yes, direct sow around May 17.

Can I plant corn in the fall in Zone 4a?