| #5 |
Was thinking last night that I might bung some sweetcorn in as I've never grown it before, I know you like it as I saw in another thread, any tips?
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Here's what I do. Anyone else please feel free to add or contradict where necessary.
Firstly choose just the one variety to grow, not every sweetcorn is compatible with another. If you have other allotments near y ask which variety they grow. Grow enough to form a block of plants each about 12 - 15" apart. The block/rectangular formation helps the pollination.
I grow Swift but as that's an F1 you might prefer a different variety. I'm also trying Picasso for the first time this year.
I sow about 3rd wk in April and plant out late May or when I can rely on no frost.
I have found that chitting the seeds on damp paper in a warm dark place helps determine the seed viability, as one year Swift had germination problems. The seeds germinate within a matter of a couple of days in warmth. Others sow two seeds to a station and cull the weakest. After chitting I place seeds in root trainers to get a good depth for roots and bring them on in warmth (GH), protecting from frost. You could try tall paper pots. I've never tried direct sowing so can't comment on that. The experts say that sweetcorn doesn't like root disturbance but I found on the one occasion I had a pot full which I separated, they did alright in the end. Nothing nicer than home grown sweetcorn, except perhaps homegrown carrots.
Basically Danny it's nothing ventured nothing gained, give it a try.
[/quote]
Here's what I do. Anyone else please feel free to add or contradict where necessary.
Firstly choose just the one variety to grow, not every sweetcorn is compatible with another. If you have other allotments near y ask which variety they grow. Grow enough to form a block of plants each about 12 - 15" apart. The block/rectangular formation helps the pollination.
I grow Swift but as that's an F1 you might prefer a different variety. I'm also trying Picasso for the first time this year.
I sow about 3rd wk in April and plant out late May or when I can rely on no frost.
I have found that chitting the seeds on damp paper in a warm dark place helps determine the seed viability, as one year Swift had germination problems. The seeds germinate within a matter of a couple of days in warmth. Others sow two seeds to a station and cull the weakest. After chitting I place seeds in root trainers to get a good depth for roots and bring them on in warmth (GH), protecting from frost. You could try tall paper pots. I've never tried direct sowing so can't comment on that. The experts say that sweetcorn doesn't like root disturbance but I found on the one occasion I had a pot full which I separated, they did alright in the end. Nothing nicer than home grown sweetcorn, except perhaps homegrown carrots.
Basically Danny it's nothing ventured nothing gained, give it a try.
Gardening is an excuse not to do housework
Greetings from Salisbury
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