Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: 1066 on April 27, 2010, 08:10:05
-
Good Morning :)
I'm about to sow my sweetcorn seeds, and based on last years semi miserable efforts I'm trying to improve on the quantity and quality - always an optimist :)
Now I know about planting in blocks of 4 x 4. But my question is roughly how many plants do you guys grow? There's 2 of us (plus friends an family get a look in every now and then). Would 1 patch of 16 plants be enough for the 2 of us? Or should I do to patches of 16, or would that provide enough sweetcorn to feed Hastings!!
Thanks
1066
-
As a family of four we grow 25-30 plants.... you can rely on 1 1/2 to 2 good cobs per plant in a moderate season 2+ in a good Summer... that's some fresh and a freezer drawer of cobs....
:)
-
Bearing in mind that seed doesn't keep well for corn andn that it freezes well, you might want to pant a fair bit.
John and I for two of us grew 50.
XX Jeannine
-
And freezing it is really useful. It doesn't need blanching, just trim, wrap in clingfilm and freeze. When you want to eat it microwave straight from the freezer for the same time as cooking it from fresh as it is only the outside that needs cooking, it works really well. I grew 48 last year for the 2 in my family that eat it!
-
And if you go into search and look for Jeannine's guide to growing sweetcorn, she recommends only three weeks from germination to planting out and it certainly worked for me last year, I had a much better crop, thanks Jeannine ;)
Here you are.... reply no 22....
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,40653.msg406402.html#msg406402
-
We only like it fresh and with 16 plants that gives two of us more than enough to eat until we get fed up feasting on it/they get too chewy. And few to give away.
I would suggest you work it on four plants per person if you are going to freeze it for occasional use over the year.
-
I had sown about 30 seeds direct into the ground and have 20 seedlings from the greenhouse, to plant today. :)
-
thanks for the replies :)
I think last year really wasn't great! Nowhere near 1 to 2 cobs per plant! I grew Asworth - am trying Swift this year :)
And thanks Tulipa for Jeannines 3 week tip :) I meant to do it last year but also failed miserably on that count! So will definitely try it this year.
Jeannine - I guess you and John like your corn ;)
thanks again
1066
-
I counted my seedlings last night and I have 5 in a pot and 15 in a bigger container. I will do 5 more this weekend, just to make up for losses.
Mine will go out in about a fortnight, or at least into the coldframe soon.
-
My first will go out in the middle of next month. They may need fleecing at some point, but as they're forecasting warm weather I don't mind risking it.
-
1066 - I found that chitting the seeds on damp kitchen tissue in a warm place saves on space as you only plant up those that show a little 'tail' after a few days. I'm growing Applause again this year and my friend has started some of Jeannine's Honey Select, which also did great last year.
My plants are ready to go out tomorrow under fleece. Don't tell Jeannine - :-X. but they were planted up on 29 March so they've been growing for 4 weeks. Never mind, with this lovely warm weather I'm sure they'll do well.
Tricia
PS: I have 16 plants - and that is just for me - I luv corn :).
-
Tricia - your secret is safe with me ;) :)
The chitting sounds a sensible idea as well - I was planning on sowing them this week so that way I should be planting out in mid may, we don't tend to get frosts here after that date....... Last year I did the same but they did sulk a bit, I'm hoping by sticking to the 3 week thing they won't sulk as much :-\ time will tell!
I think it will have to be somewhere between 16 and 30 for the 2 of us and if we are lucky and have a bumber crop our freinds and family will no doubt benefit ;D
And thanks again for all the replies ;D
1066
-
I've never had a problem with germination, not when they're sowed in the greenhouse, but I had a almost complete failure when I tried direct sowing last year.
I've grown 7x7 for the two of us. It was probably more than we needed, but they're fun to grow.
-
I grow around 70 (10 x 7)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Allotment/SweetCorn-1.jpg)
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Sweetcorn/Sweet%20corn/sweet%20corn.html (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Sweetcorn/Sweet%20corn/sweet%20corn.html)
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Sweetcorn/Sweetcorn.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Sweetcorn/Sweetcorn.htm)
-
Last year I grew one variety of 28 plants and only got around 20 cobs, can't remember the name. But the second variety, I had 36 plants and had over 50 large cobs. (T&M Tender and Sweet)
-
We plant about 25 plants and have been getting 3 to four cods per plant in recent years
in a block :)
-
So it looks as though sowing direct into the soil is a bad idea... :(
-
Good tip about 3 weeks. I intend to sow mine next weekend, but might leave it another week.
I tend to grow about 16 plants. Only did 12 last year and got a dismall crop.
On GW last week Toby said you should sow them two to a pot and leave both plants in as they grow well that close. Anyone tried it? I'm a bit sceptical myself!
-
I would go for pots in greenhouse to start off !!
:)
-
Jeannine is panting well, and Graceland is growing fish (cod). ;D ;D ;D Sorry, but my job at work was proof reading, did make me laugh, just off to the lovely allotment to do some watering. Hit me if you like. :( :( :(
-
Graceland is growing fish (cod).
Oh yea cobs !!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Bear in mind, that getting more than 2 cobs is not a plus, in fact corn breeders aim to breed for two only which the commercial growers prefer, the pollination is better and they don't get partially empty corn.
Tricia.. I won't tell either LOL
Borlotti. you would need a full time job proof reading me, I can spell but I can't type..and I have to do everthing in a hurry. I have given up on it now,usually apologise now and again but I accept it as a fact of life for me!!! Gives my friends huge laughs now and again.. so enjoy it, I have done some doozies I can tell you.
XX Jeannine
-
Can anyone tell me the best way to seed a couple of cobs. Do I just leave them on the plant for longer.
Cheers
-
TeeGee - I take it you are growing corn for more than 2 people!! Quick question about your photo - what was the spacing? It looks very close, or is that just the angle?!
Can anyone tell me the best way to seed a couple of cobs. Do I just leave them on the plant for longer.
I've no idea Pigeon but I'm sure someone will be along shortly ;D
1066
-
Pidgeon, I t would be difficult to seed just two as they are windpollinated I guess you could watch very carefully and then when they are ready to pollinate you could try to do it by hand, The top tassle is male and the side ones are female. I will look in my book about seed saving and hand pollinating to keep the seeds pure and I will get back to you,
XX Jeannine
-
I follow the advice of someone on our allotment who has won gold for the best allotment in town three years running! Plant seeds in modules on 10th May and by the time the root is at the bottom it will be end of May and time to plant out. Much more successful than any other time I've tried.
Our local foxes love sweetcorn so it's essential to put a chicken wire fence around.
My family think that the allotment is only for growing sweetcorn and strawberries so I grow 10 x 10 and we have plenty for everyone and the freezer :)
-
Thanks Sunny Flower..
Jeannine, thank you for your help. May I ask what book you use for reference?
Cheers
-
We sow 25 and plant one and a half feet between in a 5x5 square. We enclose the area with fleece about two foot high - they really seem to thrive in this micro climate.
-
I have several books on seed saving, I will find them out tomorrow and post the titles, It is bedtime for me and am going off shortly but i won't forget.
XX Jeannine
-
Now I have a bit more growing room I'm growing 64 'Swift' on my main plot, and 32 'Incredible' on the new half plot. We eat a lot fresh and I strip the corn off the cobs to freeze the rest which should last our family of 4 all year.....
-
I follow the advice of someone on our allotment who has won gold for the best allotment in town three years running! Plant seeds in modules on 10th May and by the time the root is at the bottom it will be end of May and time to plant out. Much more successful than any other time I've tried.
Our local foxes love sweetcorn so it's essential to put a chicken wire fence around.
My family think that the allotment is only for growing sweetcorn and strawberries so I grow 10 x 10 and we have plenty for everyone and the freezer :)
Wish I'd seen that BEFORE I just sowed mine a couple of hours ago!
-
The best tip I was given was to use rootrainers and just press the seed into the soil and not cover it...I've been getting near 100% germination since I've been doing that. I aslo use plastic bottles around the base of my sweetcorn when planting out..it provides a bit of shelter from the wind and protects against slugs as well. I just keep them on all season and remove and reuse them when digging the spent plants up in autumn.
-
Our foxes leave them alone.... :-X
-
TeeGee - I take it you are growing corn for more than 2 people!! Quick question about your photo - what was the spacing? It looks very close, or is that just the angle?!
I was wondering the same 1066, looks a lot closer than the 50cm / 60cm spacing I used last year.
Cheers
-
sunny sunflower - whereabouts are you? I'm in the SE and so was aiming to have planted out by mid may, but you are starting out at that time?
I'm going to fleece / protect them better this year too - so thanks all for the tips :)
Thanks
1066
-
Mine are out! Celeriac too - with fleece at the ready to protect against wind and cold.
Tricia
[attachment=1][attachment=2]
-
I take it you are growing corn for more than 2 people!!
Well no!! but having said that; I do give some to my son & daughter.
It freezes well so I find my harvest does both of us for most of the year!
Quick question about your photo - what was the spacing? It looks very close, or is that just the angle?!
I plant seven plants across an eight foot wide bed and the rows are 15" apart.
I don't tend to go along with the pundits and their prescribed centres I think there is a bit of plagarism in there somewhere. i.e. it has always been done that way so that must be it.
What I do is keep a mental note of rootball sizes and make my plant centres in such a manner as each root ball does not encroach on each other.
I do the same with my brassicas as I have mentioned in the past.
But basically I work to the old maxim and that is;.........if you find a way of doing things that suits you and you are happy with the results then continue with that method.
-
Thanks TeeGee for the clarification
But basically I work to the old maxim and that is;.........if you find a way of doing things that suits you and you are happy with the results then continue with that method.
I've yet to find what works with sweetcorn - hopefully I'll find a way this year ;) :)
Thanks again
1066
-
Hi 1066
I'm in west sussex. I used to plant my sweetcorn earlier but soon learned that they don't like root disturbance if I kept them back from planting out. Since going for the 10th May sowing date and planting out at end of May I've had great results ... no need for fleece or anything by then :)
-
thanks sunny sunflower - you're round the corner from me then!!
-
At the minute I have about fifty plants coming on, I will also be sowing seed direct in to the lotty, I love my sweetcorn so with the two varieties I will have about just over 100 plants in all, I also take a few down to the local for the lads, still eating last years, :)
-
Early Extra Sweet sown Sunday - 35 'ish germinated so far :-X
Incredible still to sow - maybe another 30-40 :-\
So maybe 70 plants 8)
Feeds us three all year + family + friends
-
I'd never realsied how popular sweetcorn is - well on A4A anyway!! :D
-
My chickens love a cob of corn as a treat. I bought a couple of bags of frozen & cook 2 & take them for my 4 girls. Very happy girls when they have them ;D.
-
It does seem ever-so popular. I've just sown mine and I'm looking to plant about 30, which is a few more than last year, as not quite enough ;D
My chickens love a cob of corn as a treat. I bought a couple of bags of frozen & cook 2 & take them for my 4 girls. Very happy girls when they have them ;D.
My girls go mad for them too , they get very stroppy if they catch me harvesting some cobs and not sharing with them!
-
well the final number has been declared - based purely on the number of loo rolls I have!
31
;D ;D ;D
1066
-
does anyone do the three sisters method?
If so any tips ? I haven't even started my sweetcorn off - will do so tonight.
-
Re Detailista's query about three sisters planting. I tried it last year. Lots of prep, pit filled with wrm, dug out earth piled to make a heap, 12 s/c in a block on top, beans to scramble up and squash to scramble through.
It rained last year from the first week in June till Late September, each day and every day, barring about 10 rain-free days here in the Wild West. After all that hard work I harvested......zilch. Not a cob, a bean nor a single squash. It all slowly rotted away in the rain. Also as this is supposed to be an American Indian tradition, perhaps I needed an endless supply of Buffalo Poo, rare in downtown Cornwall.
So if you want three sisters, insist to Him upstairs that this MUST BE A BBQ summer, otherwise...well sorry, but don't bother!! (Mark you, the power of prayer etc etc.....)
Regards, Caro
-
Hi , re three sisters, there are lots of threads on the forum about how to do this but briefly.
3 varieties of veg,corn,beans and squash.
It should ideally be built in a circle, 12ft in diameter works best A hill of soil raised to about a foot high in the middle, flattened on the top,it will settle a bit.
In the US seeds are sown directly into the ground but in the UK you are better to start with transplants.
Corn goes in the top of the mound. beans go next planted lower down in the side of the mound, then the squash is last and is planted at the base of the mound.
It works best if you are growing the veggies for winter keeping. eg dent corn rather than fresh eating,beans for drying and wintersquash or pumpkins.
If you use fresh eating corn and picking green beans it is difficult to get in among everything as it grows quite dense but it can be done especially if your spacings are right.
Spacing is important, to close and the method is starved of nutrients, too far apart and the corn won't pollinate.
The corn acts as support for the tall growing beans which fix nitrogen in the soil this helps the squash and corn, and the squash smother weeds that would grow round the base.
There are lots of sites on the net that can give spacings etc for size mounds etc but 12 foot works the best, I think.
XX Jeannine