Fiesta

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Fiesta corn arrives in a riot of color—kernels that seem sunlit in shades of warm butter-yellow, ember-orange, and deep garnet-red, set in tidy rows along tender, milky cobs.

At maturity it offers a sweet, creamy bite with a pleasantly crisp snap, making it a standout for fresh display and vibrant flavor-forward dishes. Grow Fiesta for its show-stopping, ornamental presence in the garden and its crowd-pleasing sweetness when harvested at the peak of tenderness.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Fiesta 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	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

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)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Fiesta’s milky sweetness and crisp snap make it feel like dessert corn—until heat hits and it caramelizes without going mealy. Harvest at peak tenderness and treat it like a star: grill or pan-hot fast, then dress hard with butter, acid, and salt so the kernels pop.

Best Uses

fresh shuck-and-eat with chili-lime butter
charred/grilled corn for smoky sweetness and crunchy kernels
quick sauté or roast to intensify caramel notes while keeping bite
corn-forward salads where kernels stay crisp under vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

sweet corn flavor with milky, creamy juice crisp snap that turns softly tender when warmed buttery-leaning richness with a clean, slightly grassy finish

Kitchen Pairings

chili-lime butter cilantro lime smoked paprika parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Zea mays var. saccharata (sweet corn), and what can I do?

Sweet corn is commonly hit by corn earworm and fall armyworm, which burrow into developing ears and feed on kernels. Check ears every 2–3 days once silk appears, then hand-remove visible pests and use an ear-targeted treatment labeled for “earworms” if infestation is ongoing. To reduce disease pressure like gray leaf spot, avoid wetting leaves when watering and keep plants adequately spaced for airflow.

How often should I water sweet corn during the 60–75 day main growing phase to keep ears filling well?

During tasseling through early milk stage, keep the soil consistently moist so it stays evenly damp 4–6 in deep—usually about 1–1.5 in of water per week, adjusted for heat and wind. Water deeply 1–3 times per week rather than daily sprinkles, because sweet corn needs stable moisture for kernel development. If leaves wilt in the afternoon and the soil surface dries quickly, increase frequency of deep watering.

How do I tell when Fiesta sweet corn is ready to harvest?

Harvest when kernels are in the “milk” stage: puncture a kernel with your thumbnail—milk should release and the kernel should feel plump, not doughy. Silks should be brown and dry, and ears are typically ready around the ~75 days to maturity window if growing conditions are steady. For the best sweetness, pick in the morning and refrigerate quickly after harvesting.