Grains & Cereals· Zea mays
Corn (Maize) Growing Guide
Versatile grain crop used for food, feed, and industrial products. High-yielding with many hybrid varieties. Third most important cereal crop globally.
How Long Does Corn (Maize) Take to Grow?
Corn (Maize) is typically ready to harvest about 100 days after planting.
FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.
Growing Conditions
Soil Requirements
Soil Type & pH
Best soil types: loam, sandy loam, silt loam, clay loam
pH range: 5 - 7 (optimal: 6)
Drainage: good
Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)
Planting Guide
Yield & Economics
Common Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
- Corn rootworm
- European corn borer
- Fall armyworm
- Corn earworm
- Cutworms
Common Diseases
- Gray leaf spot
- Northern corn leaf blight
- Corn smut
- Stalk rot
- Ear rot
Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.
Growing Tips
Plant corn when soil temperature reaches 10°C at 5 cm depth — cold soil delays germination and increases seedling disease risk.
Corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder — side-dress nitrogen at V6 stage (6 visible leaves) for maximum grain fill.
Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than long single rows — corn is wind-pollinated and needs adjacent plants for proper ear fill.
The critical water demand period is tasseling through grain fill (VT-R3). Water stress during this 3-week window reduces yield 3-8% per day.
Rotate corn with soybeans or other legumes — this breaks pest cycles and provides 40-80 kg/ha of nitrogen credit from legume fixation.
Harvest grain corn at 15-20% moisture for best storage quality. Delay risks field losses from stalk lodging and ear drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Corn (Maize) take to grow?
Corn (Maize) typically takes 100 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. The best planting season is spring, early summer.
What soil does Corn (Maize) need?
Corn (Maize) grows best in loam, sandy loam, silt loam, clay loam soil with a pH of 5-7. Good drainage is required.
What temperature does Corn (Maize) need?
Corn (Maize) grows best at 20-32°C. Frost tolerance: none. Heat tolerance: high.
What is the expected yield for Corn (Maize)?
Across 161 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Corn (Maize) range from 40 to 22,470 kg/hectare, with a median of 3,820. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.
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Key Agronomy Terms
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