How Close Can You Plant Different Types of Sweet Corn?

Warning

• Nearly all types of corn will pollinate with one another. Cross pollination will revert sweet corn type back to a non-sweet variety of field corn. To maintain sweet corn characteristics, keep the different types of corn isolated.

Significance

• Sweet corn is wind pollinated and does not rely on insects to spread pollen. It is best to plant sweet corn in blocks rather than long single rows. This will ensure good pollination and kernel development. Ideally space the sweet corn seeds 9 to 12 inches apart in a row, and space the rows 24 to 36 inches apart. Place three to four rows side by side.

Time Frame

• Spacing out maturity dates is also another way to keep sweet corn from cross pollinating. Space the maturity dates so they are two weeks apart. This ensures that the pollination cycle of each variety falls at a different time and there is less stray corn pollen in the wind.