Topic: Popping corn

[Gordonmull]

Do I need a special kind of sweetcorn to grow popping corn or is it just ordinary dried sweetcorn kernals? Never grown sweetcorn before but Mrs Gordonmull has a penchant for popcorn so I'd have a go for that.

[Jayb]

Yes you need to grow a popping corn. I think it is combination of seed coat thickness and moisture content that makes a good popping corn, which sweet corn doesn't have in the right combination.  I would think you could try sowing seed of your pop corn alternatively there are some offered on seed sites, have a google of Strawberry popcorn. Also Nicky's has Britpop http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/veg4B-sweetcorn.htm. It may need to be grown away from some other sweet corns or it might make them startchy.

[chriscross1966]

THe strawberry popcorn I grew last year wouldn't pop :-(....

[Chrispy]

I think you have to also get the correct moisture content, too dry and it won't pop, too moist and the popcorn will be chewey.

[Gordonmull]

Thanks for the advice folks. I'll have a wee "pop" at it next year  If i'm right in thinking i'd be too late to sow a corn now. Never thought of just sowing shop bought corn kernals, so might just chuck 4 or 5 in a pot soon to see if they come up.

[Jayb]

I'm not sure how long it takes to ripen, but would have thought there is time to sow this year.

[aj]

The good thing about popping corn is that you can leave it on the stalks until the winter before harvesting and the bring indoors to dry out completely.

[Stevens706]

Growing it for the first time this year after watching clair's allotment on youtube popping the corn (link below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YiHQmt5ihA