sweetcorn

[diggerrick]

hi, i am growing sweetcorn for the 1st time,i have about a dozen plants do i put them in row or in or in a block? do i need to support them with canes?any tips please.cheers rick :)

[diggerrick]

[goodlife]

You need to plant them into block for pollen to distribute more evenly amongst them.
There is not need fo any canes..they are self supporting.. ;)
Just ensure that plants are firmly bedded in and they'll do rest themself.

[rog_pete]

i think it is well answered above
I grew for 1st time last year and could have planted them slightly deeper than i did... not sure what you call it but at the base of the stalk they throw out roots for stability, so this year i have planted them about 7" deep... and they are doing brilliantly already

[Vinlander]

Sweetcorn is wind-pollinated so a block is the safest way to get them all pollinated.

Logic says that if you have prevailing winds then you should get better pollination if they are all downwind of each other (obviously the first one in the row will miss out).

I have to admit I've never tried it because I always grow more than 16 - but I do sow a rectangular block with more downwind (8-10) than crosswind (4). It works.

Cheers.

[goodlife]

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the first one in the row will miss out).
Now, I've got confession to make which is answer for that problem too... ;D
I'm a secret Ken Dodd fan...but instead feather dusters I like to tickle with my static modern version of the old 'duster'.. ;D They are just ideal to collect some pollen on and transferring some on femail parts of the corn.. ;D
No more 'hit and  miss' cobs on plants that stand on edges on the bed.. ;) And guarantied to get few odd looks from fellow gardeners.. ;D ;D "OH I'm so house proud that I even keep my sweetcorn dusted".. ;D ;)

[grannyjanny]

Goodlife,  I hoovered the greenhouse on Tuesday ;D ;D ;D. It was with the spare one though ;) ;D.

[goodlife]

Janet..if you got one of those hoovers with in/out connections you could go really upmarket with mechanical pollination...suck it in with one end of the hoover and blast it out from the other.. ;D
Your GH must be glistening now..did you use some 'blade' too.. ;)...smell of jasmines and hollihocks.. ;) ;D
OOHHH... :o..I must try that hoovering thing when Dragon is in her allotment...she gets fit seeing me doing that.. ;D ;D I'll bet she'll try to 'better' me for that.. ::) ;D
I MUST TRY THAT.. ;D...and feather duster sticking out my back pocket too.. ;D ;D...thanks for that.. ;D

[grannyjanny]

Youngest daughter was waiting for a Spitfire to fly over a couple of weekends ago. OH suggested she dressed up for the occasion. She did, rollers in, headscarf on & a cigaret hanging out of the side of her mouth. She put the pics on facebook, sooo funny.

[goodlife]

You lot are 'bad' influence...getting us do silly things... ;) ;D Wouldn't life be boring if somebody doesn't dare to be different..

[newspud9]

Rog_pete...saw you planted 7" down.  Wow...I've followed pack instructions and put in only 1".   I'm sweetcorn first-timer...am I likely to be disappointed by being so shallow!!