When to plant sweet corn in Madras, OR

Plant sweet corn from seed, directly in the garden in Madras, May 26 – Jun 30.

Moderate Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Madras's typical last spring frost is May 19. Frost kills sweet corn, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 26. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 10 inches apart in a block of short rows
Planting depth: 1 inch deep
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 80 days after planting

Step by step

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds May 26 – Jun 30, 1 inch deep, 10 inches apart in a block of short rows.
Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
Harvest: Ready about three weeks after the silks appear, when the silks are brown and the kernels squirt milky juice.

Varieties that do well here

Early Sunglow
Bodacious
Golden Bantam

Watch out for

Crows pull up sprouting seeds. Cover the bed with netting or row cover until plants are 4 inches tall.

Plant in blocks of at least four short rows, not one long row, for good pollination.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Madras, OR?

Typically May 19. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 7. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Madras.

Is it too late to plant sweet corn in Madras?

The spring planting window runs through June 30. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 4.

How long until I can harvest sweet corn?

About 80 days after planting. Ready about three weeks after the silks appear, when the silks are brown and the kernels squirt milky juice.

Also plant in Madras around the same time

Planting dates for sweet corn in nearby areas

Bend and Redmond, OR Jun 16 – Jul 21
Klamath Falls, OR Jun 16 – Jul 21
Burns, OR Jun 18 – Jul 23
Prineville, OR Jun 8 – Jul 13
Lakeview, OR Jun 11 – Jul 16
Baker City, OR Jun 1 – Jul 6

Full planting calendar for Madras · Sweet corn in every city