I've 'shared' a packet of sweetcorn seeds with my class of miniature gardeners. They've had a fairly good germination rate in the classroom.....mine at home have not fared so well! I am now out of seeds of that variety, but have another pack knocking about which I could have a go with. Can I interplant the two different varieties or do they need to be separate from one another?
If all else fails, I shall nick the kids plants and replace them with some of the other variety (hope they grow quickly so the kids don't notice!) ;)
BTW the varieties are Incredible and Golden Bantam.
Thanks!
Hey, I am no expert, but I have just read an book lol
In said book 'organic allotment gardening for beginners' it makes reference to not growing different sweetcorn varieties close to each other because they are wind pollinated and you could end up with cross pollination which would result in tough, not that nice cobs.
Whether in practice this is a true problem I'm not sure, but to be safe I have planted my two varieties away from each other.
No expert here either but I wouldn't interplant 2 varieties. I reckon the minimum you need is 16 plants to make a viable block. You could have 2 blocks or just get some more seed. Sorry, I can't help I am doing Lark this year again. And maybe Mirai .... and possibly Ovation ::)
Quotethe varieties are Incredible and Golden Bantam.
In this case I wouldn't!
Incredible is a 'sugar enhanced' variety and Golden Bantam is an open pollinated heitloom variety.
If they cross pollinate which is highly likely, the chances are they will revert to the less sweet one (Golden Bantam)
To get overcome your situation the best bet might be to buy a a similar type to the one you used up and save the packet you have until next year.
For example; If you have used up 'Incredible' buy another sugar enhanced variety and you should be OK as any any variation with cross pollination will not be noticeable.
Or; vice versa If you have used Golden Bantam buy a variety that is not sugar enhanced!
I hope that helps you wth your decision making....Tg
Thanks guys! My plan of action is to sow lots of Golden Bantam to replace the kids Incredible's (which I shall add to my own!). The children planted SO many different things that they won't notice that their corn has shrunk a little over the Easter hols! ;)
Can I make a suggestion Gerbera?
You don't indicate where you and the kids are but I would say you are a bit early with your sowings.
Perhaps it might be better to wait a few weeks before sowing anymore and then you will have plants to slip in to replace any that are lost for whatever reason.
This might prevent a few of the kids being disappointed because theirs have died off.
As I say it is only a suggestion!....Tg
I think they need planting within 3 weeks after germinating ;D.
I suggest that you ask the kids to grow you some more ;)
(and me - I often struggle to get it to germinate!)
The rule about seperating squash by type is this.
Regulaqr Hybrids sweets.. seperate from Supersweets but not Sugar enahnced
Sugar Enhanced seperate from Supersweets but not regular hybrid sweets
Supersweets, seperate from all other corn varieties if maturity dates are within 15 days
Open pollinated Sweets,seperate from supersweets but not sugar enhanced
Ornamental and popcorn seperatr from all others if maturity dayes are within 15 days.
Sadly the UK are not good at giving maturity by days on their packets so be careful if using this option.
Bantam is an open pollinated and Incredible is a sugar enhanced, you are quite safe growing these together.
You are however planting far too early.
Three weeks from seed to planting out tops. Corn does not like to be transplanted so in order to fool it, start in 3 inch pots no sooner than three weeks before it goes into the garden so it goes in undisturbed, any other way or longer in the pots and it will sulk when planted out and it can take ages to stop and start to grow.
XX Jeannine
Jeannine I still have your PM from 2 years ago with the info re sweetcorn explaining things for me ;D.
Whoops, perhaps I'm a little too eager (all that sunshine made me feel I was getting behind with the sowings perhaps?). However, I'm close to the south coast, so weather is quite mild. Last year I left it late and got no sweetcorn....now I've over-compensated!
I'll sow a fresh batch in a few weeks time and then I'll have all bases covered!
I WILL have sweetcorn this year!!!!
Good to hear that I can put the two varieties together though. Thanks for all of the advice :)
So glad that I looked at this sight ,as Ive got two types of sweetcorn just come through, thought they'd died on is Gladiator a f1 grow it last yr very sweet ,oh fiddle can't remember the other one off hand a Senior moment ;) but never new about not mixing them up thanks guys ;)
I'll be starting mine in a couple of weeks time (along with lot of beans and the courgettes, cucumbers and melons).... Sweetcorn will be getting toiletroll tubes pushed into 24-cell modules, two varieties... Swift in and near the polytunnel, Mirai on the main patch on the other plot... But I'd agree, unless they were going into a polytunnel in Devon or something it's too early to sow yet....
Clay basket, post your other one and I can probably tell you which type it is, I have a decent record of varieties. LOL I seem to do this each year.
Granny, I get cross at the Uk cos they give so little info.
Have a great corn season folks
XX Jeannine