📍 Saint Petersburg, FL · Zone 10b · Last frost Thursday, January 15, 2026
✏️ ChangeWhen to Plant Sweet Corn in Saint Petersburg, Florida (33708)
Location
Saint Petersburg, Florida
ZIP Code
33708
USDA Zone
10b
Last Frost
Thursday, January 15, 2026
📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates
Direct Sow Outdoors
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Based on last frost Thursday, January 15, 2026 · Zone 10b
Pro tip: Sow Sweet Corn directly outdoors 2 weeks before your last frost date.
🌿 Plant Details
☀️ Growing Requirements
☀️
Sun
Full Sun (8+ hours)
💧
Water
High (consistent moisture, especially at silking)
↔️
Spacing
12" apart
🌱
Planting Depth
1" deep
Seeds typically germinate in 5-10 days
Ready to Plant Sweet Corn in Saint Petersburg?
Get your seeds now so they're ready by Thursday, January 1, 2026.
* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🤝 Good Companions
⚠️ Avoid Planting Near
Full Companion Planting Guide for Sweet Corn
See which plants help Sweet Corn thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →
🛠️ Supplies You'll Need
* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Common Sweet Corn Varieties
Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.
Silver Queen
Classic white sweet corn with tender kernels and sweet, milky flavor; a Southern favorite.
Honey Select
Tripled-sweet hybrid with yellow kernels and extraordinary sugary flavor; very popular.
Peaches & Cream
Bicolor corn with yellow and white kernels; sweet, tender, and widely adapted.
Jubilee
Long, 9-inch yellow ears with excellent flavor and good disease resistance.
Luscious
High-sugar synergistic variety with exceptional eating quality and tender skin.
Common Sweet Corn Problems
What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.
Pests
The most destructive sweet corn pest; larvae enter the silk channel and feed on developing kernels.
Apply mineral oil with Bt to silk channels when silk is 5 days old; harvest promptly when ears are ready.
Larvae bore into stalks and ears, causing structural damage and entry points for disease.
Apply Bt when caterpillars are small; scout for egg masses on upper leaf surfaces.
Knock down stalks and strip ears the night before harvest, with almost supernatural timing.
Electric fence with peanut butter bait is the most reliable deterrent; harvest promptly at peak ripeness.
Diseases
Fungal galls on ears, tassels, and stalks swell to silver-gray blobs; actually edible (huitlacoche).
Remove smut galls before they burst; destroy (don't compost); plant resistant varieties.
Bacterial disease spread by corn flea beetles causing tan-streaked leaves and ear rot in susceptible varieties.
Plant resistant varieties; control flea beetles with row covers.
Common Mistakes
Corn is wind-pollinated and needs a block of at least 4 rows to ensure kernel fill.
Plant in a block (4+ rows wide, any length) rather than a single long row.
Sweet corn converts sugars to starch within 24–48 hours of reaching peak; starchy corn is a disappointment.
Check daily once silk turns brown; puncture a kernel — milky juice means it's ready. Harvest immediately.
Cross-pollination with field or popcorn ruins sweet corn flavor.
Separate by at least 400 feet or plant so tasseling times don't overlap.
🌾 Seed Saving Guide
🔴 DifficultWhen to Harvest Seed
Leave selected ears on stalks until husks are dry and brown. Harvest after first frost.
Processing
Husk dried ears, shell off kernels by hand, spread to cure 3–4 weeks before storing.
Seed Viability
Up to 2 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.
Pro Tip
Wind-pollinated — requires 1000-foot isolation from all other corn varieties. Needs 200+ plants minimum for genetic diversity.
Raised Bed Planting Guides
A 4×8 bed fits 32 plants of Sweet Corn. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sweet Corn in Saint Petersburg, Florida? +
In Saint Petersburg (Zone 10b), direct sow Sweet Corn outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026.
What is the last frost date for Saint Petersburg, Florida? +
The average last spring frost date for Saint Petersburg, Florida (ZIP 33708) is around Thursday, January 15, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 10b.
How long does Sweet Corn take to grow? +
Sweet Corn typically matures in about 75 days from direct sowing. In Saint Petersburg, that means you can expect harvest around Thursday, January 1, 2026 plus 75 days.
Should I start Sweet Corn indoors or direct sow in Florida? +
Sweet Corn does best when direct sown outdoors. In Saint Petersburg, sow directly around Thursday, January 1, 2026.
📚 More Sweet Corn Planting Guides
Other Plants for Saint Petersburg
Growing Sweet Corn in Zone 10b
Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) is a popular garden vegetable. In Saint Petersburg, Florida, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10b, you should direct sow seeds around Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Your average last frost date is Thursday, January 15, 2026. Sweet Corn grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.