How to Plant Sweet Corn in Ohio

Select a disease and pest resistant variety of sweet corn. Read the seed packet to determine if the variety is appropriate.

Select an area of the garden that receives full sun throughout the entire day.

Use a shovel to thoroughly mix generous amounts of organic matter, such as well rotted manure, compost or rotted leaves, into the existing soil. Sweet corn is a heavy feeder so make sure the soil is rich in organic matter and well-drained. If you choose to add fertilizer to the soil, choose a variety specifically formulated for corn crops.

Check the soil temperature with a soil temperature testing thermometer; available for purchase at a gardening center. When corn is planted before the soil is warm enough, the plants do not grow well reports the Ohio State University.

Plant standard sweet corn seeds once soil temperatures reach 55 degrees F and supersweet varieties once soil temperatures reach 65 degrees F.

Plant sweet corn seeds ½ inch deep during cool weather. Plant seeds 10 inches apart, in rows that are 30 inches apart if the soil is moist and on the cool side. Thin weak plants out of the row once they reach 4 inches in height.

Plant seeds 1 ½ inches deep in warmer, dry soils. Plant seeds 12 inches apart, in rows up to 3 feet apart when the soils is warm. Thin the weakest plants out of the row when they are 4 inches tall.

Tamp the soil down firmly over the seeds.

Water the sweet corn plot thoroughly after planting the seeds.