Corn planting spacing depends on the type of corn and growing goals, but general recommendations are as follows:

• Seed spacing within rows: Plant corn seeds about 7 to 9 inches apart in the row for typical sweet corn

. Some sources suggest spacing seeds 10 to 12 inches apart to balance growth and pollination

. For high-density planting, seeds can be spaced in 15 by 15 inch squares

• Row spacing: Rows should be spaced about 24 to 30 inches apart

. The common standard row spacing in large-scale corn production is 30 inches, though narrower rows (20 inches) have been used to improve light interception and yield in some cases

• Planting depth: Corn seeds are generally planted 1 to 2 inches deep, with 1 inch depth common for sweet corn and 1.5 to 2 inches optimal for nodal root development

• Pollination considerations: Corn is wind-pollinated and requires planting in blocks of at least three rows rather than a single long row to ensure good pollination and ear development

. Plants too far apart may reduce pollination efficiency, while plants too close compete for nutrients and water

• Small garden or intensive planting: In small plots, spacing can be closer (around 5 to 6 inches apart) but may reduce ear size or pollination quality. Thinning seedlings early to about 10 to 12 inches apart improves plant vigor and yield

In summary, for home gardening sweet corn, a good guideline is to plant seeds about 7-9 inches apart within rows, with rows spaced 24-30 inches apart, and plant in blocks of multiple rows to ensure adequate pollination

. For larger scale or field corn, 30-inch rows with 6 to 10 inch spacing between plants is common