Author Topic: Sweetcorn tips (Read 6053 times)

Laney · « **on:** January 30, 2007, 10:22:32 »

My partner wants me to grow a few sweetcorn plants. I'm not convinced as it means I'll have to dig another separate bed for them. We only need a couple of plants as it's only us that eat the cobs. This place has given me so many ideas already, so I thought I'd ask you knowledgeable folks some questions. My garden is south facing by the way.

How deep/wide does the bed need to be? How many cobs do you get per plant? Should I start them off indoors, and when? Any other tips would be gratefully received!

Deb P · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2007, 10:56:10 »

Grow sweetcorn in blocks, so they pollinate ok, otherwise you end up with patchy cobs! I've grown as few as 9 in a tub and got good pollination, so depends on your available area.

I start mine off in roottrainers about late April/May. Best tip I was ever given was to just push the seeds into the top of the soil, not to cover them. I got 100% germination doing this, will do again this year. ;D

Rosyred · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:10:27 »

We got a 1-2 cobs per plant.

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:18:00 »

I start mine off indoors in March, then move them to the mini-greenhouse as soon as we get some decent mild weather in April. I plant them out in June, but this year I may do it a bit earlier, under cloches. When planting out, it pays to bury the bottom couple of inches of the stem, as this gives the plant a bit of extra stability.

cambourne7 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:23:38 »

you can plant them in your main crop spud bed in a row once there about 4 inches high.

Curryandchips · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:50:38 »

I plant mine in pots and then plant out end May/early june. 1-2 cobs per plant off Kelvedon Glory. I grow 50-100 plants and freeze them.

Derek :)

markfield rover · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2007, 13:06:03 »

Winter squashes will grow very well underneath sweetcorn,I think they benefit each other

cambourne7 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2007, 13:18:05 »

yep its a good companion you just have to be careful that your squash or pumpkin dont squash your sweetcorn :-)

cornykev · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2007, 14:56:02 »

Two cobs max on mine last year, you can fit them in anywhere into the rotation and are good companion plants. ;D ;D ;D

OliveOil · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2007, 16:50:50 »

i got an average of 4 cobs on 20 swift plants last year.

Dont need to dig, just plant em in when they are about 8-12 inches tall and they will just grow! must admit they were the easiest things to grow last year for me!

kitten · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2007, 16:56:32 »

Thanks for starting this thread Laney, we're hoping to grow some sweetcorn too so it's handy to hear everyone else's tips. I'm a bit disappointed to only be getting around 4 cobs per plant, but I suppose i'll be happy if I get anything this year lol! Good luck with yours, look forward to hearing how it's going x

manicscousers · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2007, 17:08:17 »

6 to 7 per plant if you can protect them, ours were in the poly ;D

cleo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2007, 18:15:49 »

How many cobs?-one or two usually from most varieties-one tip -when you see those claw like roots on the surface then earth up a few inches-it does make a difference

cornykev · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2007, 18:33:38 »

What variety did you use Scousers to get 6 or 7 :o mine only produced 1 or 2 :( and grew to about six foot. ;D ;D ;D

miniroots · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2007, 19:29:08 »

Very pleased to see that it's an easy one.
I might have a chance then...

How do you feed? Are they a hungry crop?

manicscousers · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2007, 19:40:48 »

Hiya, we grew Royalty and Tuxedo, ..we got 10 plants, 1 grew none, 3 got 7, the rest got 5 or 6 and a couple of small ones we used in stir fries , don't know which was which, I'm really bad at labelling ;D

kt. · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2007, 20:17:18 »

Mine were 4 weeks late getting transplanted. Only got 3-4cobs from a total of 24 plants. Was not a happy bunny :(

manicscousers · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2007, 20:22:03 »

oh, yes, forgot, they were all grown in the polytunnel and reached well over 8 feet tall, and I started them early :)

kenkew · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2007, 20:23:48 »

You gotta shake 'em, KT....shake 'em........spread the pollen. You should average 3/4 cobs per plant.
Did you read Derek's bit......50 to 100 plants.Ye G*od's.

Curryandchips · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2007, 21:21:17 »

To be honest, on my best year, after losses, my 100 was only 94 plants. I did have two fresh sweetcorn for breakfast every day at work for 4 weeks though, and a freezer full to boot.

Derek :)

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Author Topic: Sweetcorn tips (Read 6053 times)