When to Plant Sweet Corn in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
Sow July to March. Right now in September you can sow.
Also called corn, maize.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Sweet Corn guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sweet corn is a warm-season grass requiring block planting for wind pollination. Freshly picked corn is dramatically sweeter than shop-bought because sugars convert to starch within hours of picking. Requires significant space (minimum 4x4 block) and cannot be grown as single plants or rows.
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/T/D | T/D | T | - | - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 20.4°C (optimal range: 16–35°C) ✓ Ready to plant
That figure is read off my own weather station here at Dayboro in South East Queensland at 18:55 yesterday, not a model. The radar, the rain gauge and the forecasts behind it sit on Dayboro.au.
How to Grow Sweet Corn in Subtropical Australia
When to Plant
September to February.
- Soil
- Deep, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost and aged manure. Heavy feeder.
- pH Range
- 5.8-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 8 hours). No shade tolerance.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep water 2-3 times weekly. CRITICAL: increase at tasselling/silk stage. Water stress causes bare cob patches.
Companion plants: Beans (Three Sisters), Pumpkin/Squash, Cucumber
Avoid planting near: Tomato (shared corn earworm)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Sweet Corn
Recommended Varieties
- Honey and Cream
- Golden Bantam
- Balinese
- Early Gem
Key Challenges
- Corn earworm
- Fall armyworm increasing
- January heat stress on pollination
Pro Tips
- Block plant 4x4 minimum
- Three Sisters works excellently in SEQ
- Bt on silks at first emergence
Harvesting Sweet Corn
When ready: Silks brown/dry. Cob full and firm through husk. Kernel exudes milky juice when pierced with thumbnail (milk stage).
How to harvest: Grasp cob, snap downward while twisting. Eat immediately. Sugar converts to starch within hours.
Worth growing?
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 12 plants, about $32 worth at today’s Aldi, IGA and Woolworths prices, checked today.
That is roughly 3 kg at $10.59 a kilo.
Draw your sweet corn bed → No account needed.
Common Sweet Corn Pests in Subtropical Zones
Organic prevention: Remove old plants. Crop rotation.
Where to next
Supermarket Price
Current average retail: $10.59/kg (12-month range: $6.98–$15.71)
Grow your own and save on grocery bills.
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Sweet Corn
When do you plant sweet corn in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Jul to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Sep to Dec
Does sweet corn grow all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Jul to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
What else is sweet corn called?
Sweet corn is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it corn, maize. Same plant, same growing advice.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.