Sowing date and nitrogen (N) fertilisation modify the morpho-physiological characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.) plants, which can alter the yield. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of sowing date and N rate on the growth-pattern characteristics of maize hybrids with contrasting cycles, and the subsequent relationship with grain yield. Two experiments were set up in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. Two maize hybrids (AG9025, super-early cycle; P30F53, early cycle), two sowing periods (early spring and late spring), and four rates of topdressed N (0, 150, 300 and 450 kg N ha⁻¹) were tested. Plant height, leaf area index (LAI), and relative chlorophyll content (RCC) were evaluated. The increment in N rate increased plant height at the silking stage for early spring sowing, and had no effect for late spring sowing. Higher N rates increased plant height of P30F53 and did not affect plant height of AG9025. Increasing the N rate enhanced LAI and RCC at silking more sharply when maize was sown in early spring. Higher N rates resulted in increased RCC during grain-filling, as well as maintenance of LAI, factors that were strongly associated with grain yield, especially for early spring sowing with hybrid P30F53. This research shows that the use of increasing N rates is an adequate management strategy to increase maize grain yield when the crop is sown in early spring. When applied at this sowing time, N has greater effect on the elevation of LAI and RCC and their maintenance during grain filling.