Sweet corn breeding

[Jayb]

What a year to be experimenting with Sweet corn!

Well as I enjoyed growing Painted Mountain corn so much last year; loved all the colours on the cobs. I thought this year I'd grow a coloured sweet corn. Not that easy to get hold of seeds and I'm not sure how tasty the different varieties are and how well they would do in the UK. 

Soooooo rather than one variety I decided to grow a selection of su sweet corn varieties and just let them get on with cross pollinating and mingling genes. Not all the varieties I'm growing are coloured, as I've tried to introduce a good amount of diversity to the mixing pot from which to save seeds.

Possibly next year I can make selections and follow desired traits. I planted my first batch out in a polytunnel, they are growing as near to the doorway as I can and I'm hoping between some breeze blowing through and me distributing some pollen around, enough will be pollinated, though the weather has been so damp cob set will likely be disappointing. 

Evolving from this and my preference for se sweet corn, and  also a fair amount of inspiration by corn breeding posts at http://alanbishop.proboards.com/index.cgi  I'm also hoping to develop a UK adapted se coloured sweet corn. Again I've sown all the su varieties I've gathered along with 5 or 6 se+ varieties. I'm not too sure on who matures when but fingers crossed plenty are close enough together to make a good gene pool.

They are struggling somewhat with the weather  and if they ever get as far as tasseling I'll de-tassel the regular su sweet corn, so all the pollen should be from the se+. I'll save seeds from the su x corn and eat the se+,  or that was the  idea! ..........though due to the weather I'm not sure I will get a harvest this year, I can always try again next year.  But if I'm lucky enough to harvest any for seed they should have good cool and wet weather tolerance!

If anyone is interested in growing some of these seeds out next year (obviously depending on harvest) let me know.

[Jayb]

[goodlife]

Oh..you have some energy for all this breeding and trialing with different crops..well done you!
It definately would not hurt to get some suitable crops suitable for UK climate.. ::)
Now if you need any growing partners or are in need of helping hand with anything..I've always got space for some.
Your painted mountain corn has finally 'taken off'..they are foot tall and I can already see some male 'bit' starting to develop in the grown..I wasn't expenting them being so short variety.

Looking forward eagerly to hear you get on with your new corn experiment..

[Steve.]

I thought this year I'd grow a coloured sweet corn. Not that easy to get hold of seeds and I'm not sure how tasty the different varieties are and how well they would do in the UK.

I know Robinsons (http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/) seeds do a red "strawberry" corn, I tried it last year outside with no success at getting cobs to mature due to a poor summer. I dont know if this is what your after.

What are the differences between se and su corn?. That's something I have not come across before.

Steve...:)

[Jayb]

Thanks for the link Steve  :) that's more a popcorn and has different qualities again from the type sweet corn I'm aiming for.

su sweet corn is normal regular type such as yellow varieties Golden Bantam, True Gold, Sundance F1, white varieties like Fishers Earliest, Stowells Evergreen and Silver Queen. There are also coloured su sweet corns like Black Aztec, Double Red , Painted Hills etc.

se sweet corn stands for Sugar Enhanced and contain more sugars than regular types, also the cobs have a better keeping qualities once picked,  (they can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days and still be yum to eat) The two types of sweet corn can be grown nearby to each other without affecting taste and making crossed cobs starchy. Se seed is a bit more robust than the supersweet (sh2 types), those are the ones with the ultra wrinkled seed and they will affect cob quality of both Regular and sugar enhanced if they cross pollinate. se sweet corn varieties-Incredible F1, Bodacious F1 and Frosty F1 etc. There is also a red seeded variety called Ruby Queen, F1 unfortunately I don't have any of this one.

[Jayb]

I found Painted Mountain very short growing last year too. I did buy some more seed (even though I've got a bucket full  ;D) from a different source so I could grow it alongside mine and compare, thought it good to mix some more genes in. Though from the few growing descriptions I could find it sounded true to type.

;D Be great if you are interested in growing some of the sweet corn, the extra insight and feedback would be great. I'm also hoping to have some mini-me tomato seed ready for next year too if you are interested in little dwarf tomatoes, that's if blight doesn't wipe me out totally.

[goodlife]

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Be great if you are interested in growing some of the sweet corn, the extra insight and feedback would be great. I'm also hoping to have some mini-me tomato seed ready for next year too if you are interested in little dwarf tomatoes, that's if blight doesn't wipe me out totally.

At your service as needed....(very eagerly indeed  ;D) ...and how could I refuce from mini-me's..I did have a plan for next year for not growing so many toms anymore.. :-X as chilli and pepper 'fever' is getting serious hold of me and I'm wanting to grow more and more of those.. ;D ;D (ordering for more has been very busy recently..)

[Steve.]

Thanks for the info Jayb, I'll read it a few times so it sinks in a bit.

I'm up for a trial or too with your corn next year, I'm quite far north here in Cockermouth, Cumbria so if nothing more it will be a good test with our rather awful summers we have been having of late.

Steve...:)

[Jeannine]

Jay, Burpee has Ruby Queen over here, I think iy's their own. I am not real keen on them as a supplier but I do order some bits from them. I will add a packet of Ruby Queen next time I order for you.

Reimers also have it but they are a terrible frim and I am certain they buy in bulk from Burpess and repack,,not a company I would ever buy from

XX Jeanniune

[Jayb]

That's great Steve  ;D

Woohoo  ;D that would be absolutely fantastic Jeannine. I've been keeping an eye out in case anyone else starts to sell them. Burpee don't send to the UK and although I've no experience of buying from Reimers, I came to the same desicion as you, reputation preceeds them!

[Jayb]

how could I refuce from mini-me's..I did have a plan for next year for not growing so many toms anymore.

Not much space needed for these ones  :P

[Jeannine]

Jay no probs, it will be much later, maybe even in the new   year I order.  I won't forget.


XX Jeannine

Jay  just cruising around hoping to find another supplier and I just got 2 packets from Amazon in the US, the Burpees site was down.

These were on sale so I hope they are decent dates but they will ship to Canada.They are Burpees seed.


The order came to less that $5 including shipping as the packets were on sale for .99cents.

Even if they are last years and you use them next year you should get fairly decent germination, ,maybe 60% anyway they are on the way to me.

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

Jeannine you are a gem   ;D
I tried Amazon.com too, no post to UK, so a big Thank You  :)

They are going to be great to add to the se mix next year  :) ;D :)

[Jeannine]

You are 100% welcome sweetie, my pleasure.

XX Jeannine

[daveylamp993]

Jaybe,would it be possible for me to try some of youre mini-me tomato seeds next year,i will pay postage and when i have sorted my seeds out i will let you know what i have to offer in return.many thanks

[Jayb]

You are 100% welcome sweetie, my pleasure.

XX Jeannine

Thank you  :)

[Jayb]

Jaybe,would it be possible for me to try some of youre mini-me tomato seeds next year,i will pay postage and when i have sorted my seeds out i will let you know what i have to offer in return.many thanks

Yes, I'm hoping I'll have enough seeds to share with anyone who is interested in growing these. I'm gutted blight is kicking in here, so I'm not quite sure yet which I will have seeds for.

[Jeannine]

Jay, I got an Amazon message that they have been dispatched , but giving me delivery dates of last week in July.

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

That will do nicely  :)

[Jayb]

Some of the poly tunnel sweet corn coming is along although development seems quite slow this year, pollination I'm guessing will be poor. There is quite a range in maturity, the earliest have cobs set and silks look to be turning brown while some of the later producing ones still don't have silks yet. Smallest variety is about 2 1/2' and the tallest currently about 6-7'

[Digeroo]

The one with the purple stem is very attractive.  What is that?  Perhaps you will have some spare seeds.   Are they nice to eat?  

I have not had much success breeding SC, seems you need quite a large gene pool.