Corn development: vegetative (nonreproductive) stages

Notes on the stages illustrated above

Stage Description Indications
0 Preemergence
1 Emergence coleoptile above soil
2 Single leaf open
3 Two leaves fully open
4 Early whorl collar of 4th leaf visible; nodal roots developing; leaf growth
5 Mid-whorl collar of 8th leaf visible; 1st and 2nd leaves may be dead; leaf growth
6 Late whorl collar of 12th leaf visible; 1st to 4th leaves may be dead; leaf growth

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 976 and Honway, J.J., 1966 Special Report 48, Iowa State University.


These pages adapted from North Central Region Extension Publication NCR 327. To order a printed copy, see our ordering information page. Last updated October 17, 1996 by John VanDyk
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