Caribbean

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Caribbean to a garden.

Sweet, milky kernels arrive with a golden glow—bursting with bright, honeyed flavor and a tender, juicy bite that feels almost silk-smooth.

“Caribbean” bicolor sweet corn forms well-filled ears with a balanced mix of warm butter-yellow and gentle white, delivering that classic, garden-fresh sweetness at about 75 days. Grow it for peak performance in the home patch, where its sturdy plants and generous ear set make every harvest feel abundant and rewarding.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

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Caribbean Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

“Caribbean” sweet corn leans into that classic milky sweetness—tender kernels that turn glossy with heat but don’t go starchy. It’s built for short-cook treatments (steam, grill, or fast char) where its honeyed, buttery bite stays loud and juicy.

Best Uses

hot-off-the-cob grilling or steaming
quick skillet char with a knob of butter
creamy corn chowder or velouté-style soup
corn-relish topping for tacos and burgers

Flavor Profile

bright honey-sweet kernels milky, juicy snap buttery finish

Kitchen Pairings

lime chili powder cilantro butter crema smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem commonly affects sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata), and how can I prevent it?

A common issue is corn earworm and fall armyworm, which tunnel into developing ears. Monitor plants twice weekly and use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) when caterpillars are small, or hand-remove early eggs/silking larvae. Keep weeds down (especially grasses that harbor pests) and avoid overhead irrigation that favors fungal issues like rust.

How often should I water sweet corn during its main growth phase?

During the rapid growth and ear-development period (roughly after tassels emerge until kernels fill), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total from rain plus irrigation. If the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil dry out, water deeply; shallow, frequent watering encourages weak roots in Poaceae like corn. Maintain this steady moisture because drought during silk and early kernel fill sharply reduces kernel number.

How do I know when Caribbean sweet corn is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the ears have mature, plump kernels and the silks have turned brown and dried, usually around 70–80 days after planting for Zea mays var. saccharata. Do a “milk” test: press a kernel—if it releases milky liquid, it’s ready; if it’s watery clear or the kernels are hard, wait a bit or it may be past peak sweetness. For best eating quality, harvest in the cool morning and use immediately or refrigerate right away.