I’ll be the first to admit it: sowing sweet corn directly into the garden is definitely the “easy” way to go. However, starting your seeds indoors has some major perks that make the extra effort totally worth it—especially if you live somewhere with a shorter growing season or a chilly spring.
Sweet Corn Needs That Toasty Warmth
To get sweet corn to sprout, you need two main things: darkness and heat. Providing darkness is easy (just bury the seeds!), but getting the temperature right outdoors can be tricky. If you rush to plant before the last frost, a single freezing night can ruin your seeds before they even have a chance. Because of this, you usually have to wait until late May to safely plant seeds directly in the ground.
No Guarantees on Germination
Let’s be real: not every single seed is going to sprout. When planting outdoors, gardeners usually sow seeds every four inches and then have to go back and thin them out later so there’s about eight inches between plants. By starting them indoors, you can pick your strongest seedlings and plant them exactly where you want them, giving you a perfectly spaced, organized garden bed from day one.
How to Get Started
Ready to give your corn a head start? Here’s my step-by-step guide to indoor sowing:
- Fill your pots with a good seed-starting mix. Make sure your pots are at least 4 inches deep to give the roots room to grow.
- Plant two seeds per pot (just in case one is a dud).
- Poke them down about 1 to 2 inches deep into the soil.
- Pro tip: Try to plant the seeds with the pointy end facing down.
- Place your pots in a bright, warm spot.
- Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.
Once the danger of frost has passed in late May, your little seedlings are ready for the big leagues! When you move them outside, I recommend planting them in at least three rows to help with pollination. Space the rows about 2 feet apart, and leave at least 8 inches between each plant within the row. Happy planting!
