Sweet Corn Seed Rates for One Acre

How Much Sweet Corn Seed Per Acre?

A family farm plans staggered planting of 1 acre sweet corn for extended harvest. Seed requirement: 12–15 pounds per acre.

Planting Strategy for Continuous Harvest

• Varieties: Mix early (70 day), mid (80 day), late (90 day) maturities.
• Stagger: Plant blocks every 10–14 days.
• Spacing: Rows 30–36" apart; seeds 8–12" in-row (thin to 12").
• Population: ~18,000–22,000 plants/acre.

Key Resource

Missouri Extension: Organic Sweet Corn Production – soil prep, fertility, pests, harvest.

Organic Fertility for Corn

• Heavy nitrogen feeder: 150 lbs N/acre total.
• Pre-plant: 50–60 lbs N/acre (composted manure, blood meal, feather meal).
• Sidedress at 2 ft tall: remaining N.
• Add 50 lbs K/acre (greensand) and 75 lbs P/acre (rock phosphate) per soil test.

Pollination Tip

Plant in blocks of ≥4 rows (not single long rows) for good wind pollination = full kernels.

Bottom Line

Buy 15 lbs seed (allows for gaps/replanting). Stagger varieties. Feed heavily. Enjoy the bounty.