Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on April 20, 2004, 12:55:23
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Okay, as most of you know, I have never had a sucessful sweetcorn experience, so I have been following your advice to the letter and now have 50 babies all growing wonderfully in there long pots in the greenhouse. I have been talking to them and comforting them and now I would like to know when is planting out time, roughly, in Essex? I have lots and lots of bottle cloches if they will help. I know that things like toms, peppers and squash are really tender, but what about sweetcorns?? ;D
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I think last year I hardened mine off in late May. Then planted them in the ground early June. soil deeply dug and well manured. Lots of water and they just got on with it.
It's not looking so good for this year. Only two of the seven I planted have germinated. Must do most tomorrow, if I can find the room!
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Lesson there? Always double sow?
We never put ours out until early June. But that's the Cotswolds. And don't forget to plant in a block. = Tim
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I can't bear to double sow as that means throwing out seedlings. Can't be doing that! (probably knowing my like I'd have sown the two that germinated in the same pot!)
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EJ - you are definitely going to need those bottle cloches! You are probably looking at mid-May for planting out, but you could start hardening them off now.
The roots are shallow, and a mulch would help them lots. The 3 sisters method with trailing squash things can help.
Good luck.
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Haven't even sown mine yet, another couple of weeks or so to go for me;
This is my method;
* Week 15; Prepare beds by digging in liberal amounts of well rotted manure or compost.
* Week 17; Sow seed in pots/trays of seed compost and germinate at a temperature of 18°C(65°F).
Germination should take about a week.
n.b. To assist germination soak seed in clean water for twelve to twenty four hours prior to sowing.
* Week 19; Pot up seedlings into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost, and gradually harden off in a frost free cold frame until planting out time.
* Week 22; Plant out in pre-prepared soil, 400-500mm (16"-18") apart in a sunny,sheltered location.
Apply a top dressing of a balanced fertiliser at a rate of 100gms (4oz) per sq. m prior to planting.
* Week 30; Keep weeds down by hoeing, taking care not to damage the surface roots.
Water regularly during the flowering (tassle) period, and as the cobs begin to swell.
Lay a mulch such as garden compost or straw, to reduce water loss from the soil.
In exposed areas ensure that taller varieties are supported.
* Week 39; Check the plants regularly and harvest the cobs as they ripen.
The cobs are ripe when the silks protruding from the end are dark brown.
Do not allow the cobs to get over-ripe, as this inclines to make them 'starchy' and less palatable.
Another sign of ripeness is the milky juice that exudes from the kernels pierced by a fingernail.
Use as soon as possible after picking, or freeze promptly.
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I'm trying sweetcorn for the first time this year too.looked at your site Gardener for howto grow and did the pre-soak bit, sowed 60 seeds and 59 germinated almost immediately! too much for the space I have available so gave half away to other allotmenteers.
they are now about 5" high and potted into 4" pots but still in greenhouse - I must have misjudged the weeks in your guide because of course week 19 isn't until middle/end May but I'll just keep them in side then harden off slowly - after all this is Central Scotland and pretty cold for quite a while yet.
Finger crossed and good luck EJ!
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I would agree with Multiveg.
Harden off as soon as they start getting too long for pots/modules, this slows them down. Be prepared to whip them back inside if a frost is forecast.
Plant out mid May under protection such as bottles (provided you are not in a froat pocket).
The Gardeners advice would mean I had to find space for 100 3" pots inside!!!!
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Sorry for butting in, I sowed my sweetcorn seeds in pots approx. 1.5-2 weeks ago and nothing has come up!
Am I being impatient?
VeggieMan
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Sweetcorn is expected to germinate in 10-12 days according to Dr Hessayon.
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In my home made propagator - temp around 20 degrees min the corn has, as at this morning 75% germinated after 5 days.
Picture follows
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A big jump from seedlings to harvest, I read the following in my x-mas present book "the Joy of gardening" by D ick Raymond. (Will you bail me out if I get arrested for violating copy right?)
Never open a husk to check if sweet corn is ready to harvest. That's an engraved invitation to insects and birds to ruin your harvest. My method is 'touchy-feely' but it works every time and never invites pests.
I locate the top of the ear, knowing that sometimes the ear will not fill out the husk completely. Then I press down on the top of the ear. If it is pointy, it's not ready to pick. (Usually the husks are still quite tight to the ear.) But if the top of the ear is flattish and almost rounded, the ear is ripe. (The husks are also a bit looser at this time.)
He goes on to say that you should not feel the sides of the ear near the top but really the very top or peak.
Could this method be more reliable than the color of the silk? I've had corn go starchy (meaning too late), going by the silk alone.
This year I'm going to cover the ears with plastic bottles untill I'm ready to pick them because the mice always harvest sooner than I would.
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Did I speak too soon? First leaf of most of my sweetcorn have become sort of discoloured at the very tip but the other 4/5 leaves are all o,k, Bill says not to worry as this happens with other plants (which I know) but I am anxious about these sweetcorn never having grown them before :-\
They are still in heated greenhouse but I am planning to put them into a mini plastic greenhouse in sheltered spot to start hardening off, think they should be ok. there from this weekend for a few weeks? ???
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okay dokey, plan a has been put into action. I have started gently hardening off my sweetcorn. They will be spending the next week or 2 outide during the day, then back in the greenhouse over night. Then at the start of May they will brave the night air, in a sheltered spot, for a couple of weeks before heading down to the plot, where they will be planted out in a block, (rough spacing - I usually do a trowels length between plants - is that okay-ish?) and covering the little beauties with my bottle cloches. Then when they outgrow their cloches, or the start of June, whichever arrives first, I will expose them to the Essex allotment sun. However, any news of frosts and I shall hot foot it to the plot to protect my darlings. I will water them profusely but what should I give them to eat?
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Ina- The blunt tip method is the way I have picked it and is the only way to pick it on a field scale- obviously picking 20-30 bushels (60 to a bushel) a day you don't have the time to look at the colour of the silk. The way I do it is to grab the top of the cob so that the top of it is nestled in my palm. This will give you a very quick indication of how blunt and rounded the tip is. If it is blunt then it means the top kernels have swelled (they are the last to do so) and is ready. The silk has to be really brown and completely brittle to get such a good visual indication. Not many people will be able to judge that stage properly.
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EJ
I have a program that converts imperial to metric plus lots of other scales such as avoir dupoid and ancient persian, but cannot find the standard trowel.
I plant mine about 15" apart and get 2 -3 corns from Kelvedon Glory and can run cucumbers between the plants
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Now that's a crafty one!!
Shades the roots as well? Could daughter do the same with her blasted squashes?? = Tim
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That's what I will be trying, the three sisters method with climbing french beans growing up the sweetcorn, and trailing squash things through them. Probably a good use of space on a small allotment.
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Really Phil, I am suprised. There is a chap on our allotment and he uses the metric welly for his measurements. ;) ;D
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Not only saving space - I have loads, but last year, I'm sure the leaves of the cucumbers shaded the corn roots and saved some water - I still had to water the cu's
This year I'm trying it with squashes and somewher else someone proposed sweet peas instead of climbing beans as they didn't think that their corn was strong enough to support beans.
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I don't think sweetcorn is strong enough for climbing runners, but should be ok for the climbing french beans...
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Think it is in the current GQT programme - re planting a fish (head/cheap one) where you are planting your sweetcorn - provides fertiliser for it - Bob Flowerdew suggested this!!!!! If you haven't got time to "listen again", it will be broadcast again on Wednesday at 3pm, on BBC Radio 4.
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hi everyone - new person here :)
I have my sweetcorn seeds but was holding off starting them, as everywhere I can grow em is warm!! (22-24C) but one is a very sunny place.
When do you recommend I sow them, I am in North Kent, so my last frost has probably been, slight risk until mid May I spose. I was thinking to sow them late this week, and then as soon as they show start hardening them off to plant out mid/late may, is ok???
Whats the best method too, toilet rolls? large propapacks (cell trays)?
ta in advance :)
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Kingkano, Sowed mine yesterday and I am on the border of Kent n Sussex, but mine are in my unheated greenhouse. Planting mine out when my first earlies have been dug up, cos I need their space ;D As to planting underfoot, I have always planted my pumpkins under my sweetcorn, (all through weed supressing membrane)they both seem to like it :D Have 4 big pumpkins from one plant last year under the corn, were great to carve for Halloween!! (did the old pop bottle watering method with it) DP
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I live in the Thames Estuary part of Essex, I will plant my sweetcorn out in the last week of May.
For info, last week we were still having frosts that were knocking back the potatoes. They would have killed the corn.
Word of warning, some of the frosts we got last week were not forecast!!
Since the sun came out two weeks ago I have seen dead runner beans, courgettes and marrows as well as tomatoes on my site. Some gardeners are over eager. Unless you have got spare plants to take the risk with keep the plants inside a little longer. If you have the spares then good luck.
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Well, as I still have the room in my greenhouse, my corns are spending the daytimes languishing in my garden but the nights tucked up snuggly in my insulated greenhouse. Their growth does seem to have slowed down now, which worries me as I have never ever ever successfully grown corn, but I shall continue to chat to them and hope for the best.
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Yep already going the planting underfoot route, after reading up heaps about it. Am trying various actually, butternut squashes, pumpkins, melons, see what does well.
Wasnt sure about the whole climbing bean thing, it just makes me think of a bean strangling the corn! But was going to try a couple.
BTW another good companion I heard is sunflowers, so throw a couple round in your corn field, apparently they boost each other no end.
ken
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We have some corns growing at the moment (still in the unheated greenhouse - and doing well) and we hadn't thought about all this underfoot growing that everyone seems to be talking about....
Do you sow your squashes and stuff outside once your corns are in or do you sow them in trays to get them going first and then transplant alongside the corn?
Les
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Got my squashes in trays, but I will transplant to larger pots for a month.
Looking at the blightwatch website - you can watch blight in several areas. They have the data for last year which gives minimum temperature - there was a frost in mid-May last year for Bromley (Kent) (which is where I used to live). Will probably transplant my corn in late May, beginning of June.
- edit, blight-watch. website is: http://www.potatocrop.com/blight/ (http://www.potatocrop.com/blight/)- though I think you may have to register.
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Could you PM me what site that is?? I dont remember us having a May frost last year, but you could be right, I remember my early runner beans got off fine, perhaps they werent enough above ground tho.
Late May sounds like a go tho, since I havent even sowed them yet, that'll be fine ::)
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I have my squashes all in pots Les and will plant them around the corns as I go. I am also going to grow my sunflowers on this plot and my tom plants but I shall keep them to the edges so they don't get strangled by the squashes. There just isn't enough room, or hours in the day for what I wanna grow. I wouldn't mind, but none of my lot are that keen on veggies so I am going to be bulging with vitamins come harvest time!
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At least you will keep the dreaded colds away when winter eventually comes around.....
What is the germination time for squashes as we haven't sown any yet but will do this weekend so they can be with the corns?
Any ideas on what squashes to grow....ie what is the easiest?
Les
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They germinate ever so quickly, within days they are poking through. Have no idea what are the easiest or best, I have a go at whatever looks unusual or yummy. I am growing lots of melons and cucumbers as they are what everyone eats, then a few big pumpkins for the kids at halloween, then lots of odd and sods like butternuts, acorns, blue coloured ones, yellow courgettes, patty pans and so on. Ava loves them to look at, not to eat. Men!! ::)
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Thanks for the ideas EJ.
Will definately be trying some......
Les
PS
less of the generalizations........LOL ;D :D ;D
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Here is a snap of my sweetcorn babies as of this afternoon. How do they look folks? Look small to me but as you know, I am certainly no expert and have no idea what they should look like.
(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QgDZAisUFK4gOnUXv2630ejvPPJhroLQ1GATWOnnJ6!L4FLidOhkSx2KABvFddm3lIILLizhHuapf53C4*RMREXjpfMmG*b6iJXpWuWC*Ys/sweetcorns.jpg?dc=4675469982360023455)
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Look bigger than mine as I only planted mine 2 days ago!! :o DP
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Whats the best idea then, segment trays of 40, segments with 24 or toilet rolls ::)
Last year I did the larger segment trays (24 to a tray) and when I planted them out they seemed okay, but I did have to wrangle them out the tray ;)
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Kingkano, I put mine into individual pots for lessening root disturbance. This year I have splashed out and put them into root trainers that you just plonk into the soil, so I would guess toilet rolls would be good! Dottie P
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actually that gives me another thought, plastic cups. they are quite individual :)
I had considered individual pots, but the thought of 70 3" pots + all my tomatoes (about 40), melons, peppers, aubergines, and I only have a flat! lol Plastic cups might work tho.... toilet rolls was one idea :) I have read mixed views tho, some say they dont break down all that well. others reckon they're great. *sigh*
cheers for the advice
ken
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I have used old drinks ups (from alongside the drinks machine at work) with hole drilled in the bottom - a pile of cups upside down and three holes drilled as far as the bit will go doesn't take too much time, but kingkango's problem will occur with all pots (less root trainers or toilet rolls) if you let the roots grow through the bottom of the pot - and you try stopping them
Phil
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I made a brave decision, popped into wilkos at lunchtime and bought 60 square almost 3" pots :o So I will use these for the bulk, and do the last dozen in toilet rolls as a trial :)
I was gonna nick cups from the drinks machine but thought better of it ::) was even gonna buy some cups (tall ones) but square pots came to about the same, so what the heck. Will be easier to knock the plant out tho than a segmented tray I am sure! Now I just need to find room on all these windowsills....hmmmm ;D
Hopefully mine wont have time to grow that far this time Phil!! I definitely learnt last year tho. but it was more the soil in the tray goes loosish and you cant just 'prick' them out properly. cant tip the whole tray upside down, so have to dig it out and then end up disturbing the roots a bit!! This time I'll only be keeping them in 3-4 weeks then straight out on the lottie.
thanks :)
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I must make it clear that I was using old drinks cups!!!
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Phil, no need to explain...we all know you are a good honest law abiding citizen ;D ;)
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I've only got 25 corns which are in 4.5/5 inch pots in the mini greenhouse things outside. I worry about them because it is pretty cold but they seemed to be big enough to leave the heated greenhouse. they are now about 5or 6 inches tall and have I think 5 or 6 leaves on average and seem o.k. Hope that's what they should be. ???
Don't intend planting them out for about 4 weeks yet as I am sure it won't be warm enough up here (Central Scotland). Wasn't going to plant anything around them as space is limited so they will be in a wee block. Keeping fingers tightly crossed - hate the thought of the ones I gave away thriving and mine dying of cold but will grin and bear it!
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I must make it clear that I was using old drinks cups!!!
Yeah I knew that ;D sadly everyone here crumples them up - the beggars!
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Poor relations - we haven't even sown ours yet!
Interesting, this 3 sisters idea - reckon they must have used maize-type corn, not the low growing stuff we have now? Or less vigorous beans? = Tim
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The F1 corns are bred for short seasons Tim. This almost automatically implies smaller plants.
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Wasn't going to plant anything around them as space is limited so they will be in a wee block
Wicker, why would you want to plant your corns in a toilet block on a camp site? ;) ;D ::)
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Hey smarty pants EJ you've given me a good laugh :D I couldn't think what you meant until I read the quote again!!
Megan
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Not complaining, John, that's just what I meant - the Iroquois had longer seasons, & therefore taller bean-supporting corn.
In passing, my g/grandmother was bargained for by the Indians on her way back fron Colorado to Indiana. 'How much for the blonde one, they asked'!! = Tim
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And I thought _I_ was getting left behind :D When are you sowing yours mate??
Yep different corn, and I cant figure out which squashes yet :) great idea to dry them tho. and lots of uses for sunflower seeds :)
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Just out of curiousity Tim, or anyone , how tall do the cvs. adapted to the U.K. climate get?
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Our Honey Bantam are about 4'6" - but I think that there are smaller ones. = Tim
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Just out of curiousity Tim, or anyone , how tall do the cvs. adapted to the U.K. climate get?
Between 4 and 6ft, would agree 5ft is the average size in a half decent summer.
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Had to plant out a row of 10 plants today, they are 9inches tall and pot bound. I know it is still a little early, but I have 100 plants (98 actually after losses), and they are all gagging for the sky now! Do you all think I am in with a chance, I may end up planting another 10 next week, and so on until the end of May, when they will all go out. The variety is Kelvedon Glory, reliable I find for my area.
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This is only my third effort at sweet corn. Once in the UK when I just ran out of sunshine, once last year when I gave all my plants way(!) and this year when I intend to eat the stuff. Just today I put them outside to harden off. They're about 7" tall and looking healthy in the loo rolls and plastic water pipe. Every year I see crops in the lotties at about 6' tall.
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Derek,
Kelvedon Glory is the one I, reasonably succesfully, grow in NW Hampshire.
Last year the corns were a bit stunted - I have no water on the allotment which is thin soil over over chalk.
Normally 2 large and 1 small corn when planted in blocks 15" apart
Phil
I buy the bigger pack from EW King (with 35% discount) whcih gives me enough for the allotment (~60) plus loads to grow for our group's Plant Sale - and therefore I make a profit before even planting them out!
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My Sweetcorn this afternoon.
They are in 3" pots and were sown 27th April.
(http://pic6.picturetrail.com/VOL164/2042270/3957340/53350479.jpg)
(http://pic6.picturetrail.com/VOL164/2042270/3957340/53350462.jpg)
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Okay - happy - mine are very similar indeedy! I have lost 4 in total to some mystery critter who munched them off at ground level, but even if I only get one cob, I will be over the moon! ;D
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Me ;D too. I sowed mine 29/4 and they look very similar. And here was me reading this forum where your all practically harvesting already and getting worried!!! ::) no rush eh!
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All 25 (orginally 30 of which 1 eaten and 4 "walked") have survived. Can't remember name and can't find packet but they were Mr Fothergill's F1 something....
Think they might be a bit too advanced (5" to 7" tall with up to 7 leaves) but they are all very strong looking. They have been hardening off for about two weeks in 4.5"/5" pots in the mini plastic g'houses (with the fronts open these last few days/nights) I know I cannot plant out as it is far too early for this area (Central Scotland) but am cocnerned because they will be too big to pland under bottles. will have to pur something around the (wee) vlock to protect when they do first go out.
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Well it seems this week is official plant your sweetcorn out week in this part of Essex. Bold as brass, no protection at all and a zillion slug pellets ( ??? ) . So, not one to be left in the cold, I will happily wait another week or 2, can't hurt can it. I have my bottle cloches at the ready and tomorrow I hope to more or less finish digging plot numero 2 where the corns are going to reside so I think all is well, and I am currently happy. Now, feeding these babies? I will be interplanting with squashes in big piles o' poo, will the corn need any extra grub? ;D
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Hi,
My second sowing are now out on a table hardening off - if they haven't germinated within 2-3 weeks I replant. Depending on weather I will plant out within the next 1-2 weeks.
If I don't get germination within 3 weeks I reseed.
jal