Days to Maturity

Days to maturity (DTM) indicates how long a crop variety takes to reach harvestable condition from the time of planting or transplanting. For grain crops like corn, maturity is often measured in Growing Degree Units (GDUs) rather than calendar days, because development is driven by accumulated heat. Choosing varieties with appropriate DTM for your region ensures the crop can reach physiological maturity before the first killing frost. Short-season varieties (lower DTM) are preferred in northern latitudes or for late planting, while full-season varieties may yield more in areas with longer growing seasons. DTM information is provided on seed labels and in variety trial data from university extension programs.