Allotments 4 All

Hi all

I am in a bit of pickle with my Sweet Corn. I sowed it in groups of 3 at the recommended spacings and now I have groups of three in the right place, but some gaps where they haven't come through at all. I have read that you shouldn't transplant them as the roots should not be disturbed. However I have no seeds left so was wondering if I should take a risk and split up the groups, or just thin them out and put up with the gaps. I suppose they might still come through, but judging by those that have, I am very doubtful if they will.

Many thanks.

Hmmm, how many gaps do you have? if there are just a few then i would suggest perhaps planting a squash or a corgette in each gap as they will grow through the corn happily and act as a mulch to some degree. if you do that, i would thin the threes down to one plant per 'station'.  if the gaps are too numerous then i think i would be tempted to get some new plants  to fill in. i dont know if others would agree but i think it might be risky trying to transplant the existing ones and it might damage the ones you want to leave behind.  someone else may have a better suggestion. 

I wouldn't uproot the ones that have done well - if you've got three together they should polinate well enough.

I'd put up with the gaps or fill them either with squash or courgettes like sarah suggests or, if you don't have any spare, sow some lettuce - they'll grow quick and fill the gaps nicely.

I'd recommend sowing sweetcorn in peat pots (or similar) next time so you know where you are before planting them out. I did mine in homemade paper pots and they worked a treat.

I have a simular problem with death in the ranks.

Can you hand pollinate?

we planted about 20 sweetcorn, grown in pots first, planted them out on plot and they have all gone something had a good munch was told rabbits eat them, but never seen rabbits on our plot