I have just acquired a new section of plot I wasn't expecting this year yey. I have decided to fill a large space with sweetcorn. I don't think cross-pollination will be a problem as the surrounding plots are not growing sweetcorn. Which varieties do you grow and why?
Hi, I grow Sweeth Tooth.
Why.. It is a short season corn which I know will mature well here.
It is a supersweet so it will stand a few days without getting starchy as the supersweets were bred for just that purpose.
It has a higher sugar content than the regular sweets for me that is a plus, but others may say they are too sweet.
Germination is excellent.
It feeezes well.
It has a great taste raw, when I am on the lottie.
I also have a new one coming over from the US as a trial for this year ???
XX Jeannine
I have found Ovation (T+M) the most reliable here.. but also grow Minipop for stir fries...
Quote from: saddad on April 14, 2007, 12:59:10
I have found Ovation (T+M) the most reliable here.. but also grow Minipop for stir fries...
saddad, can you grow both of these in close proximity?
If you keep the minipop well cropped and take out the top tassles which release the pollen... I grow them on seperate plots about 200 yards apart and other people grow corns and I've had no problems...
;D
we're growing royalty this year :)
i'm trying jubilee and buttersctoch this year for the first time
I just remembered I grew Bodacious a couple of years ago and it was very good,XX Jeannine
anyone tried 'miracle F1'? I have a packet of these seeds but I am really looking for a good chance of some good success as it will take a big space to grow them. Don't want to plant them if they are not going to be good!
Ha! You never know with a name like "Miracle", do they mean they're like a miracle, or do they mean that it'll be a miracle if you get anything from them? I'm afraid I have nothing more constructive than humour to bring to this one, and even that is in limited supply!
I have Sweet Nugget which I think is F1 and supersweet. Don't know however since it's the first time I've grown them.
Best? No such thing! Just because you've enjoyed what you have grown, it's not necessarily the 'best'. Best for what? Compared with what??
We stick to Honey Bantam. It may not be 'the best' but it serves our purpose.
I like Jeannine's mouth-watering spiel!
Tim I agree I think it is impossible to decide best, corn nowadays is much like tomatoes there are so may types and in those types there are different varieties that it has become a very personal choice.
I think for anyone who is starting to grow corn they have to ask themselves what they want in flavour,texture,freezability,keeping quality etc, and then decide what type you want to grow,after that you can decide variety.
The original old open pollinated corns had a very distinctive taste, they were full of corn flavour, they did not keep ,and started to turn their sugars into starch the moment they were picked,if they were 24 hours old they were terrible.However when fresh of the stalk and cooked immediately they were excellent.They don't freeze well.
Called OP Sweets.They need eating right away.
Next came the hybrids, this took the corn 1 step further and varieties were blended to pick for ' better characteristics'. Germination was better, corns kept a bit longer on the stalk and they turned their sugars into starch a tad slower and yield improved. Freezing was still iffy.
Called Hybrid Sweets (su)They have a comparatively short time to stay sweet
Following this came the the next generation of Hybrids, these had an even more improved shelf life, and so far no cross pollination affected favour.They freeze better.
Called Sugar Enhanced (se)
We next saw the Super Sweets , these became very sweet corns, many people say they have lost the old time flavour and think they are too sweet, these have a good shelf life and stay longer on the stalk in good condition, and they don't lost their sweetness if frozen. There are down sides to this though, they cross pollinate with all other corn, they are expensive and the germination need more heat to get going, seeds will rot of not warm enough. Seeds are wrinkled.
Called Super Sweets (sh2)
There is now a new generation of corns, that have all the characteristics of the Supersweets, breeders claim old fashioned corn flavour and they don't cross with other corns.
Called Synergistic corns, the kernels are a blend of Supersweet and Sugar Enhance on the same cob.
This is the one I am growing this year to try,along with my supersweet.
So if you are looking for a corn, as I said it is like looking for a tomato, everyones tastes and needs will be different.
XX Jeannine
thanks very much - very useful post Jeannine! I think 'Miracle F1' is a supersweet.
i planted some sweetcorn about 3 weeks ago and due to the warm weather they are about 6 inches high. is it too early to plant them out or should i re pot into bigger pots?
Great spiel, Jeannine!
How soon does open pollinated corn have to be cooked if it's stored in the fridge? I'm trying some from Real Seeds this year, and it's going to be interesting to see what it's like!
Robert, the old saying put the pot on to boil and then go and get the corn is very apt, I wouldn't eat it the next day personally,it starts to lose it's sweetness rapidly as soon as it is pulled, but the flavour is good if it is just pulled. Some folks say it is the best though. If you have been used to the suppersweets you will see a difference,I like the texture of very fresh oldies as the supersweets are crunchy. I wouldn't pick it until the day you want to cook it. XX Jeannine
Jeannine,
Brilliant description....what variety of Synergistic corn can I order and from what source? Many thanks Dinger
Thanks for the advice; fortunately, I only work half a mile from the plot, so it's a lot easier than it used to be.
Hi Dingerbell, you will have to google synergistin corn,I know very little about it, in fact since I ordered mine (the add said does not cross pollinate) I have done a bit more reading and there seems to be a differnce of opinion on that part, so Iam not trusting it. I bought Honey Select from a company in Utah. Mountain Seeds I think. XX Jeannine
My favourite sweet corns are "Lark" and "Swift", both extra tender and sweet. I germinate them on top of the compost to prevent rotting of the seed. They do well here in the Glasgow area, as they are quick to mature and are ready in September.
Mmm.. Utah? I imagine there'll be plenty of cross-pollination there... ::) :P
OK I've got my coat :-[
I have just had a nother read of this. For those folks who are growing Miracle FI.
It is NOT a supersweet variety,it is a sugar enhanced variety. Check the eatlier comments I made re pollination between types.
XX Jeannine