Corn Planting Calendar
Complete planting-to-harvest calendar for corn across US growing zones.
USDA zones: Zones 3-10
Month-by-month corn schedule
- January — Planning: Order seed, review soil test results, plan rotation
- February — Soil Prep: Apply lime if needed based on soil pH tests
- March — Pre-plant: Apply pre-plant fertilizer, prepare seedbed
- April — Planting: Plant when soil temp reaches 50°F at 2" depth
- May — Early Growth: Scout for weeds, apply post-emerge herbicide
- June — Side-dress: Side-dress nitrogen at V6-V8 stage
- July — Pollination: Monitor for stress, irrigate if available
- August — Grain Fill: Scout for ear diseases, monitor moisture
- September — Maturity: Monitor grain moisture, prepare harvest equipment
- October — Harvest: Harvest at 15-20% moisture for best quality
- November — Post-harvest: Plant cover crop, manage residue
- December — Off-season: Equipment maintenance, review season data
Tips for growing corn
- Soil temperature is more important than calendar date for planting
- Target 32,000-36,000 seeds per acre for dryland, up to 38,000 for irrigated
- Split nitrogen applications improve efficiency and reduce leaching risk
- Harvest moisture above 25% increases drying costs significantly