My sweetcorn seedlings are in toilet roll tubes on a windowsill (west facing) and have their first leaves but the leaves look a bit pale to me. Should I be feeding them? And can someone remind me when to plant them out? Think I did it too early last year and had a poor crop.
I put mine out during the 1st week of June. I am too scared of frost damage. You could plant them out a bit earlier if you protect them. Remember to allow time for them to harden off.
Duke
I have sixty in modules and await the day to plant them out.
They will be mixed with the border plants in my garden as there is no room left in the veg area.
If there is some left over I shall be letting the junior school next door have them as an incentive to grow food.
The plan is to plant in 2 weeks time with wind protection
So will any of you be feeding them before they go out?
QuoteSo will any of you be feeding them before they go out?
No!
There should be enough sustenance (i.e. 3-4 weeks worth) in the compost to keep them going to planting out time!
I think I sowed mine too soon! Sown 3 weeks ago in loo rolls and the roots are now out the bottom. With at least another 2 weeks before planting out, should i pot them on, and if so do the new pots have to be deeper to accommodate the roots or will they spread if I just use wider pots?
Quotethink I sowed mine too soon!
A common mistake I work on about three weeks before planting out time!
This year I was a bit later because it was bl**dy cold at my normal sowing time!
QuoteWith at least another 2 weeks before planting out, should i pot them on, and if so do the new pots have to be deeper to accommodate the roots or will they spread if I just use wider pots?
Mmmmmm! this is a bit tricky as I don't truly know the answer not having been in that position before!
Whats going through my mind is planting your loo rolls around the rim of a bucket/s so that the plants have a good root run.
My concern here is; will the roots get tangled up? sweetcorn do not take kindly to root disturbance.
Regarding potting up I would go for deeper rather than wider and hope that the do not get pot bound which I think is the better option than broken roots.
Its either or in my opinion I'm afraid!
Thanks TeeGee. Maybe I should sow some more as a back-up, or is it too late now?
QuoteMaybe I should sow some more as a back-up, or is it too late now?
Its not a bad idea to have insurance, however what will happen to your surplus if the batch we have been discussing survive and you new lot are a success.?
I guess only you can decide!
My corn has suffered, but I've still got 35 out of an original 60, not all of which came up. I've got more seed still to sow as well. The beans are looking a bit sorry for themselves, but they're OK.
A neighbour of mine has his runners out under fleece, and he told me he sowed seed beside them just in case. If the first lot survives he pinches them out. If you have space you could grow both lots on and enjoy a longer corn season.
I would probably give the excess away.
I freeze my excess and am still eating last year's crop.
I've just sowed my second batch - Swift F1 in root trainers. The first lot, which I sowed later than usual as it is still so cold in West Yorks were eaten by mice (along with 47 out of 52 broad bean seeds!) I've never known such devestation from mice here before, must have been the cold winter.
Off to the lottie to plant out the 5 surviving broad bean seedlings ....!