Topic: Sweetcorn root damage when planting

[lewic]

I bought six sweetcorn plants in a 5" pot, that were about 18" tall, they seemed a bargain at £1.99..

The instructions said to 'separate the plants' but this proved impossible without damaging the roots. Despite soaking them, when I broke the root ball up I lost huge chunks of the root system, perhaps 3/4 of it.

Are these doomed? They look OK this morning, but were only planted last night.

[reddyreddy]

you've nothing to lose if you leave them in for the weekend, if they are dying they'll be dead by sunday! I lost some roots on mine but they are now thriving.

[reddyreddy]

By the way you really need more than 6 plants to have success, they need to be planted in a grid not a row and need about a dozen in order to wind polinate.

[lewic]

I'll look out for some more at the weekend then! Have been told that the badgers will probably get em anyhow..

[cleo]

I`m sure they will be fine-just plant in a mini block.

And you seem to have yet developed `gardener`s hands` ;D-old and calloused they may be but they could tease a root ball apart with the skill it tempts to tickle a trout ;)

[daileg]

I'll look out for some more at the weekend then! Have been told that the badgers will probably get em anyhow..

Id get some seeds in this time of year they will catch up if not plant seeds all round the rest will help a little  later even if the plants are a little smaller than the pre grown ones

[Robert_Brenchley]

Get a packet of seeds and plant them, it's not too late. I tried corn grown like this one year, and planted seed at the same time. I got a crop from the seed, nothing from the potted plants. They don't like having their roots pulled apart.

[lewic]

Ha ha Cleo, I have got the rough gardeners hands (didnt take long  >:( ) but not the gardeners patience. It was more a case of tickle..tease.. oh sod it.. rrrrip!

The lower leaves are looking a bit flaccid this evening, oh well it gives me an excuse to go to a garden centre tomorrow. Will try some seeds - didnt realise I still had time.

[realfood]

Keep them well watered and they will probably be OK.

[cornykev]

I've had a real bummer with the sweetcorn sowing this year , so I sowed some direct last week and ten days later I have ten little blades poking through.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[grannyjanny]

I've planted s/c from 2 different suppliers. 18 out of 20 germinated from one 2 out of 30 from the other. Exactly the same method used for both.
Janet

[Robert_Brenchley]

Were they both the same type of corn? Supersweets need extra warmth.

[grannyjanny]

Yes, both minipops. All started off in the airig cupboard.
Janet