Strawberry Corn

Family: Poaceae Grain Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sweet, candy-scented kernels burst with a strawberry-like sweetness—an arresting twist on classic corn—while the ears develop a tender, juicy bite and a softly milky texture at peak ripeness.

“Strawberry Corn” grows into a showpiece with bold, fruit-bright color that turns the garden into a living bouquet, then delivers that distinctive flavor for fresh enjoyment and standout roasting, plus vibrant color for salsas and pickling-style preserves.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Strawberry Corn

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Strawberry Corn 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
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

These ears are built for timing: the kernels turn milky and juicy at peak ripeness, so roast hot and eat immediately—don’t let them sit and dry out. The strawberry-like aroma plays best with bright acid (lime) and salty cheeses, where the sweetness reads as vivid instead of cloying.

Best Uses

hot-off-the-grill roasting with a hit of salt and lime
cut-kernel salads that stay glossy under light vinaigrette
vibrant salsa for tacos—served just after chopping to keep the snap
quick pickling-style preserves for sweet heat or snacking

Flavor Profile

candy-bright sweetness softly milky, tender kernel bite aromatic berry-like top note gentle vegetal sweetness, not grassy

Kitchen Pairings

lime chili powder feta cotija cilantro smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Watch for corn earworm and fall armyworm, which often start on the silks and work into developing kernels. Spray or apply a biological control like Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) targeted for caterpillars as soon as silks first appear, and remove badly damaged ears early so larvae don’t keep spreading. Good spacing and avoiding overhead irrigation reduce the chance of fungal issues like ear rot and mold on the ears.

How often should I water sweet corn during the main growing phase?

During tasseling and ear development (roughly mid-season to about 2 weeks before harvest), keep the soil consistently moist so kernels fill properly—aim for about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week depending on rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than light daily watering, and stop frequent watering once ears are filled and silks have dried to help prevent ear rots. Check moisture at 2–3 inches deep; if it’s dry at that depth, water.

How can I tell when strawberry corn is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the ears are fully developed and the silks have turned brown and dried, usually about 70 days from sowing for your sweet corn type. Press a kernel with your fingernail: it should release a milky fluid and feel tender (not hard or starchy). For best flavor, pick in the morning and cook or refrigerate quickly because sweet corn sugars drop fast after harvest.