Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: blisters on April 11, 2008, 16:01:51

Title: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: blisters on April 11, 2008, 16:01:51
This year I was planning on growing baby corn - Minipop together with a traditional cob type, maybe Incredible.

However, I seem to remember reading somewhere, that two different varieties of sweetcorn shouldn't be grown together due to cross-pollination problems.

Does anyone know if I can plant them together in one big block, or will they cross-pollinate and produce something inedible?  If they can't be together, how far apart would I need to put them?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: bupster on April 11, 2008, 16:10:55
I'm sure we've had a couple of discussions on this - check the thread on chitting sweetcorn and squash, I seem to remember that Jeannine posted instructions on sweetcorn growing.
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: saddad on April 11, 2008, 16:56:08
We keep them on seperate plots... but you may not have that luxury...
Minipop is best grown in a line or two rather than a block...
:-\
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 12, 2008, 06:50:29
Do not mix varieties of corn. Unless you want to experiment rather than enjoy the crop.

A group of us had some 'extras' one year and put them all together on a spare area just to test the theory and the mixed bunch were a waste of time.

One of our members tried keeping and drying a husk from a good crop and planting it  the following year. This worked so well he does it every year. His crop is always good. Another member tried from his good crop and the results were rubbish. No one kept the name of the variety they used in either case so the experiments had no value.

I once tried to grow from popping corn. I got loads of plants but they did not produce anything worth eating
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: jo9919 on April 12, 2008, 10:16:09
I posted a similar question last year. If you follow this link you can view the thread  :)

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,35450.0.html

Jo.
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: Jeannine on April 12, 2008, 16:05:05
You will be quite safe planting Minipop and Incredible together. The Minipop is a regular sweet and the Incredible is a sugar enhanced type, they are fine together.

The problems arrive when you plant the supersweets.

XX Jeannine

Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: grawrc on April 12, 2008, 16:15:35
Just discovered 6 seeds of sweet nugget lurking at the bottom of my seed box. Off to get them started.
Title: Re: Sweetcorn Varieties - Cross-Pollination?
Post by: blisters on April 12, 2008, 18:18:35
Thanks guys.  It makes life a lot easier knowing I can put them all in one bed. :D