Can anyone tell me when is the best time to grow sweecorn??/ I tried last year but the plants never grew any corn!! couldn't understand where I was going wrong, thanks Lisa :)
Sow them around the end of March, depending on where you are. Sow in root trainers or loo roll inners as they do not like root disturbance when planted out.
When planting out space them about 12" apart when frosts are past and in blocks, not single rows and earth up the stems as they grow upwards. Feed with something like grow more or fish blood and bone and they like an open sunny site.
When the plants are in flower, the very top of the plant, you need to ensure the cobs silks get polinated. This normally done by wind but you can help by shaking the plants from time to time to release the pollen.
HTH
Jerry
This thread may also answer you
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16429.0
Just to reinforce what has already been said. Sow towards the end of March under glass, so that the plants are at the right size to plant out when the frosts are passed (beginning of June for most of the UK). I tend to soak my seeds for 24 hours prior to planting in small pots. These are simply knocked out when planting out. Using this method I have had very few losses after germination.
If you also intend to grow squash or pumpkins, you can leave 'gaps' and plant the squash after you have planted the sweetcorn. They grow very well together.
Thanks All for the tips, can I use growing tubes instead of loo roll ones?? I bought growing tubes last year but never use dthem, they are made of foam!
If they are easy to remove the plug plants then yes they should be fine as they will limit root disturbance.
Jerry
Thats a great tip Curry, planting squash with sweetcorn, thankyou.
This is first year on the plot and i am going squash crazy. I just can't wait to grow my own, and i was worried that they would take up most of the plot because they are such large plants.
Pakaba
what about coloured varieties are they just for show or can you eat them too?
I would not eat them in the main as they do not have the sugar content that make home grown sweet corn so good.
There are a couple of edible coloured ones though, have a look here for examples:
http://www.seedfest.co.uk/seeds/corn/corn.html
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/823/1
HTH
Jerry
Interesting that squashes grow well amongst sweetcorn, but how do you
stop the stems trailing all over the allotment?
I may try growing over a frame like Bizzie Lizzie did last year
but would gladly welcome advice.
What else grows well amongst sweetcorn - I didn't grow it last year so
I'm asking all the questions now in preparation ;D
Growing squashes amongst sweetcorn is part of a traditional technique called the 'three sisters' method, in that climbing beans were also grown up the sweetcorn stems. I believe that originally (in America where this method originated) the sweetcorn plants would have been quite tall, eg 7ft.
I keep my squashes within their designated area by just turning the runners around when they reach out and directing them back into their 'block'. The squash plants don't seem to realise and are very happy with the sweetcorn. I may attempt some climbing french beans in there this year too, haricot type so I wont need to harvest until the sweetcorn are all finished.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/2001_Febuary_March/The_Three_Sisters (http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/2001_Febuary_March/The_Three_Sisters)
Last year was my first year on my allotment and Sweetcorn was one of my "must have" crops. Fresh cobs from the plot picked and cooked within minutes are one of natures greatest pleasures. I managed a great crop last year with 2 good cobs from each plant. I started mine off by placing on damp kitchen paper in the airing cupboard and had a 100% germination success. I then transplanted to toilet rolls, and then moved to the plot when they were about 6"" high. I transplanted them quite deep so that they could get a good root system established. I underplanted mine with perpetual Spinach and salad leaves. All in all a real success story. I've still got a dozen cobs in the freezer...Yum Yum ;D
I earth up around the base of the sweetcorn when they are about a foot or so high, have found this makes a lot of difference.
All good advice! My personal "tip" is that I soak the kernels for up to 24 hours before sowing tho I don't use root trainers just pots Also I plant pretty close together (max 12") and don't underplant with anything........ So, GG, you will select your own way from everyone's advice and it will work for you I am sure - but one thing is certain - they will be the best sweetcorn you have ever tasted ;) We are still eating last year's crop frozen and still delicious (we ration them to once a week now)
Earthing up the sweetcorn is not something I have ever done, but there seem to be many advocates, so I will be trying it this year to see if it makes any difference.
I agree with sowing them in rootrainers i think they are marvellous, and uderplanting with squash seems worth trying . I had a lovely crop last year
well the ones I got to before a mysterious beastie nibbled them I thought
it was birds so I netted them no good must be mice i said no people said must be squirrels any idea's
I bung a couple of bean seeds (runner or borlotti) in when I plant the corn out. Saves staking and they are supposed to do the corn some good.
Jeremy
I intercrop with lettuces, as this gives cover and suppresses the weeds.
Now that I might try CGrower - we grow mostly smallish cos and I always think lettuce like a bit of shade.......
Quote from: derbex on February 21, 2006, 22:20:13
I bung a couple of bean seeds (runner or borlotti) in when I plant the corn out. Saves staking and they are supposed to do the corn some good.
Jeremy
I planted my runner beans next to my sweetcorn last year after reading they are good companion plants - the beans prevent the corn getting a disease (the name of which I can't remember)