I have just read that you can't grown certain varieties together because cross pollination causes the kernels to turn starchy. I am growing Sweet Nugget and Double Standard. Does anyone know whether these two types will be okay grown in the same bed side by side?
Julie
???
seed packets normally contain about 25 - 40 seeds, how much sweetcorn do you intend to grow?
yes, sweetcorn is very promiscuous, it'll mate with any nearby corn.
I agree with Tony although I find that if you buy the extra/super sweet varieties these seem to mix OK providing you harvest them before they become too starchy.
Your Double Standard is not an extra sweet variety so far as I can see so you might have problems.
Personally I would grow all one variety this year and save the other for next year!
Thanks for the info. I think I'll stick to Teegee's advice and only grow one variety this year.
Thanks
Julie
:D
Or you could plant them a few weeks apart and separate them that way.
QuoteOr you could plant them a few weeks apart and separate them that way.
Risky that I think Robert!!
One variety could be a faster grower han the other and catch up the delay between!
But then again until you try you don't know!
I've bought Lark, Grow Your Own magazine said it doesn't need isolating. I'm also growing Swift.
If you would grow you sweetcorn well apart...several meters between, there is not that much chance for huge cross pollination..how often plants growing outside of the block have not so well pollinated kernels..for eating purposes you would not notice difference
unless you plan to save seeds...then even a little crosspollination will spoil the true nature of the real variety
Quote from: grannyjanny on March 26, 2010, 20:08:31
I've bought Lark, Grow Your Own magazine said it doesn't need isolating. I'm also growing Swift.
The reason why is because in those varieties the sweetness genes are dominant over the starchy ones so a cross won't affect the supersweets where although awesomely sweet when both sides are the same, go starchy if they get pollinated by a non supersweet variety.... so the problem is that you can't guarantee the seeds... easy way though is plant a big patch and save seeds from the north-eastern side through the middle.... you'll still have to bring in outside seed occasionally to keep your genetic variation up....
chrisc
Sow one this year and the other next
Or if your plot is big enough put them at opposite ends
But what if your neighbour sows theirs close to yours
They have a long growing season and take up a fair bit of room sowing and planting, so why take the chance when you could lose the taste
I normaly buy three packets in the sale of the same type.
;D ;D ;D