Hi, I'm well south of you (Ga) but I planted corn this spring when the temps and conditions were as you described and they did just fine. I say plant away!

Good luck

P.S, I'm envious of your 70 degree highs. It is now officially to hot to go outside during the middle of the day here in Ga.

You should be fine. Some cultivars of sweet corn don't germinate well in cool soil, but that means when nights are still frosting. Most will emerge even before last frost. Field corn is even more cold hardy. Even the supersweets (SH2) should be good to go with your temps.

I've been facing the same questions.

Soil temperature at the depth of the seed (1 1/2" to 2" for corn) is the important factor. Soil temperature depends far more on solar radiation than air temperature.

On 5/26/09, when I planted corn, the weather was cool and cloudy. Soil temperature was 58°F. There have been 2 or 3 sunny days since then and soil temperature on those days has been 94°F, near optimum for corn germination. Daily high and low air temperature has steadily ranged from mid 50s to mid 60s during that time.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Germination Temperatures

Thanks! We will be heading out in a few minutes to plant, then. I appreciate the help. :^)

Edie