Best Corn to Grow in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spans USDA Zones 5–7, typically Zone 6. We've broken out 32 corn varieties by zone — pick your zone below or find the right varieties for your specific part of the state.
Varieties
32
for Massachusetts
USDA
Zones 5–7
155–210 days season
Beginner
16
easy to grow
Heirloom
12
heritage varieties
Massachusetts in USDA Zones 5–7
Massachusetts spans Zones 5–7. Variety lists below are organized by zone — start with your zone for the most accurate recommendations.
Growing Corn in Massachusetts
Zone 6 offers corn growers a sweet spot – literally and figuratively. With your generous 180-day growing season stretching from mid-April to mid-October, you have enough time to grow everything from quick-maturing varieties to full-season storage corn, plus the luxury of succession planting for continuous harvests. The key challenge you'll face is that unpredictable late spring weather that can catch eager gardeners off guard, and the occasional early fall frost that sneaks in just before that last planting reaches maturity.
When selecting corn varieties for Zone 6, focus on maturity dates that give you a comfortable buffer – varieties maturing in 70-90 days are your workhorses, while you can push to 100+ days for specialty varieties if you time them right. Look for varieties with good cold soil tolerance for early plantings and strong disease resistance, as your longer season can mean more exposure to common corn ailments. The varieties I've selected here range from reliable early producers like Early Sunglow to full-season beauties like Stowell's Evergreen, giving you options whether you want sweet corn by July 4th or dried corn for winter storage.
Zone 6 Corn for Massachusetts★ Most of MA
32 varieties · Last frost April 15 · 180-day season
Zone 5 Corn for Massachusetts
32 varieties · Last frost April 30 · 155-day season
Zone 7 Corn for Massachusetts
32 varieties · Last frost April 1 · 210-day season
Zone 6 Growing Tips for Massachusetts
In Zone 6, resist the urge to plant corn too early – even though your average last frost is April 15th, corn needs soil temperatures consistently above 60°F to germinate well. Wait until early to mid-May for your first planting, when soil has truly warmed. For succession planting, sow new rows every 2-3 weeks through mid-July to ensure harvests into October. If you're determined to get an earlier start, try starting seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before transplanting, but handle those roots carefully – corn doesn't love transplant shock.
Your biggest zone-specific challenges will be damping-off in cool, wet spring soil and potential drought stress during hot summers. Plant in well-draining soil and consider raised beds if your area stays soggy in spring. For the back end of the season, keep row covers handy for unexpected early September cold snaps that could damage late plantings. Most Zone 6 gardeners can squeeze in three solid succession plantings: early May, late May/early June, and late June/early July, giving you fresh corn from mid-July through the first hard freeze.