Allotments 4 All

I was feeling very pleased at the height and sturdiness of my sweetcorn plants compared to the plots nearby, but I realised today that while the others have got lots of cobs forming. there is not a single one on mine! does this mean they haven't been pollinated, and if so is it too late to do anything about it?

If they've got the male flowers at the top of the plants, they'll be pollinated. I've had this problem myself in the past - when did you plant them?

Sorry, Robert, my record keeping is not what it should be! I sowed them in early April indoors, if that's any help! Think I planted them out some time in June. I'm in North Yorkshire & I haven't watered them much but they are abour 5 ft high now.

You should be OK, maybe yours are just a bit slower; if they're bigger it sounds as though they're a different variety. Starting them indoors is what made the difference with mine; I plant them in March.

Thanks for the reassurance, Robert. :)

I would put this etirely down to variety, I have some producing cobs on 3' plants, while other varieties are about 6' and still not showing.

Mine are currently about four feet and producing impressive cobs. There's a case here for growing a several varieties in order to produce a succession.

I have looked at mine this morning (Kelvedon Glory) and they are a real mixed bunch. I have already eaten two, many more have tassles and there are some without any cobs visible at all. The last ones have male flowers showing though, so I am not worried. There are still 6 weeks of growing weather left.

What do the male flowers look like? Are they the 'long strands' poking out of the top?

That's how I understand it, Sprout.

Male flowers stick out of the top, as you say; the females are near the bottom with green tassels sticking out and turning brown as the cobs ripen.

Panic over! Went down today and there are signs of cobs forming on most of the plants, and even some tassles on a few. :) AND it's rained quite a bit today, AND one of my artichokes has got a head- so I'm a happy bunny!

Many of our plots grow a dwarfing variety that forms cobs at about 3', I prefer Ovation which is showing tassles now at about 6', our Minipop on another plot are about 7' and just starting... I remember HSL sowing a Cuzco Giant at Ryton  which grew to over 12' but didn't flower/set cobs as it was a short season that year!