Corn typically takes between about 60 to 125 days to grow from planting to maturity, depending on the variety, environmental conditions, and location.
Growth Timeline Overview
- Emergence: Corn usually emerges 4 to 20 days after planting, depending on soil temperature and moisture. In warm, moist soil, emergence can occur in 4 to 5 days; in cooler soils, it may take up to 3 weeks
- Vegetative Growth: Corn progresses through vegetative stages (V1 to Vn) over several weeks. Early leaf development happens every 2 to 3 days after emergence, with rapid growth starting around 6 to 8 weeks after emergence
- Reproductive Growth: After tasseling (VT stage), corn enters reproductive stages starting with silking (R1), which occurs about 65 days after emergence on average. Kernel development continues through stages R2 to R6, with physiological maturity reached around 125 days after emergence
Typical Duration by Variety
- Early maturing varieties can mature in about 58 to 65 days.
- Mid to late varieties may require 86 to 92 days or more to reach maturity
- Sweet corn varieties generally take 60 to 100 days to harvest, depending on temperature and sunshine
Summary
Stage| Typical Duration After Planting
---|---
Emergence| 4 to 20 days
Silking (R1)| ~65 days
Physiological maturity (R6)| ~125 days
Total growth time| 60 to 125 days, varies by variety and conditions
Corn growth is influenced by temperature, moisture, soil fertility, and hybrid type. For example, cooler temperatures can extend the time to emergence and maturity, while warmer conditions speed up development
. In general, most corn varieties take about 2 to 3 months from planting to harvest under typical growing conditions
