If you want to gain XP fast you plant Strawberries, NOT Corn. Corn only gives 4 xp every 22 hours. Strawberries gives 1 xp every 5 MINUTES. In a 22 hour time period that it would take 1 plot to grow Corn and give you that 4 xp, you could've made 1320 xp by planting Strawberries in it's place.
The game wasn't designed for more than 96 levels, and TL made the difference between 96/97 so high as they didn't think people would achieve it. TL was wrong. LOL
If you want to gain money fast, plant Raspberries as they don't cost anything and the turn around is 1 minute.