Allotments 4 All

Hi

New this evening!  Been enjoying some of the sweetest sweetcorn ever this year and wondered if it is possible to dry one of the cobs for seeds?  I know with some plants you can't because you don't get a true variety but have no idea if this is the case with sweetcorn.  ???

Thanks

Pepino

Sweetcorns are wind pollinated, so there is a good chance they've crossed if anything was growing close by.  I think about 15 foot is the recommended gap.

One of my neighbours on the site always saves a couple of his best "cobs" and leaves them to dry naturally in his shed in readiness for the next growing season.

I only think its a problem if the sweetcorn was originally hybrid.

Half of my crop os bought seed and Half of my crop is local seed  given to me from the next allotment plot and seems to produce  good Cob . He keeps a few cobs over every year to dryout and use the next year. It is reckoned that  the reuse of locally grown seen produces a better plant . I can just go by the fact that he has been there for 15 years and not bought any corn seeds since then. I have been using his advice and been keeping a few plants to seed  for next year, Rocket , radish and garlic but this seed will take 2 years to grow, better to plant too much garlic and plant  cloves early before winter.

Thanks for all your help.   I think I will store a cob or 2 for seed and use some bought too just in case I mess up!