Tips for sweetcorn?

[Rhys]

Charles

I’m going to try growing sweetcorn for the first time this year and have a couple of questions:

1. In your book, it reads as if you sow direct into the soil, whereas seed packets also offer the option of sowing in 7.5cm pots first prior to transplanting. Do you find any difference in outcome as I could do either but would prefer the safety first approach for a first shot??
2. If I were to sow them in a pot in early May (e.g. Saturday 9th), would they need transplanting before Sunday 24th or would that work fine??

I think I would sow direct into the ground on 24th if that were the preferred route………

[charles]

Transplanting sweetcorn works well, I wonder which book I say not? Soil is often cool now and I would sow in modules, or direct in first half of May. A module sowing on May 9th could be planted 24th, two to three weeks is ideal.

[Rhys]

Charles

It’s not that you say not to transplant, more that the table in ‘Organic Gardening the no dig way’ simply mentions sowing and not transplanting, unlike many other tables in the same book, so I wondered, hence the question.

Thanks for the advice – I’ll certainly take it!

Rhys

[charles]

thanks for the tip re book

[Gary.J.Kelsey]

Charles, I agree with Rhys, the book is slightly vague on the sowing technique for sweetcorn. However, I made the assumption that it would be indoor sown, as it seems only carrots and parsnip cannot be raised indoors in modules.

I raised sweetcorn this year in 2 inch (5cm) modules on 17th April, they are now averaging 6 inch (15cm) in height, at what stage would these be planted out? Additionally, is there still time to sow more indoors in modules or direct?

[charles]

Thanks for book tip and yes Gary, still time to sow until month’s end roughly, esp. in the south. I would plant out now, as long as you are not prone to late frost. Fleece will help though leaf-tips singe where touching it.

[Leif]

I am in the south and we had a very light frost last night, only over the botton half of the garden. Forecasts were for 5C minimum.

[Karen]

Hey all,

I planted Sweet Nugget F1 sweetcorn in modules on 17 April and they were planted out on 13 May and we got our first harvest on 28 July.

Charles, I know in your veg growing book the recommended spacing for sweetcorn is about 30cm. I kinda pushed mine to 15cm planting spacing instead as I have observed that the cornfield spacing in Germany were extremely close. (Plus I am running out of space!) In addition, I was thinking along the lines too that perhaps pollination would be a lot higher if the spacing was closer. I am happy to say the results have been fantastic. I planted with similar closer spacing the year before too and have given the same great results.

Just wanted to share my own personal experience and that perhaps we would be able to have more space for more plants and better pollination for sweetcorn plantings.

[charles]

Brilliant! I am feeling hungry.
Well done on the spacing, is it 15cm in all directions?
Field spacings are sometimes even closer at 10cm but they have wide spaces between rows.
My 30×30 is an equidistant spacing, no wide rows.

[Karen]

Yes it is 15cm in all directions… I grew 2 rows and the leftover plants (think about 4-5 plants) squeezing in between the 2 rows even.!

[bluebell]

Just a note that field planted corn may not be grown for maximum crop! It is often planted to provide cover for game birds and so the spacing in fields may be to achieve different ends!

[Valmai Russell]

Hello Charles and fellow corn enthusiasts. I have used the module method (3-4 seeds ea.) over several seasons with excellent results – it really does save a lot of the agonizing over when to sow – which moon phase to work around – weather patterns , frost protection etc etc – I have even been known to pot on to 90ml pots before finally planting out. Squeeze them tight in the no dig beds has been my mantra. A young friend grows commercial crops (direct sown) and is always impressed how advanced my corn season is compared with his. I must say the thought of some steamed freshly cut cobs smothered in butter is most appealing on this dreadfully cold afternoon however best I go do something useful and physical like get a greenhouse ready for the overdue first spring sowing of hardy greens.
Kind regards
Val

[charles]

Nice tips, thanks

[Rhys]

Here in NW London, we harvested our first three Sweetcorn at the weekend past. About 4 weeks earlier than last year, based on earlier sowing date, earlier transplantation date (under fleece) and a warm July and August. The strain I used was also stated to be early cropping. They tasted delicious.

[charles]

Yes we had some last night, from Steph’s allotment where there are no badgers. Its a wonderful crop this year after a warm summer. For once, we left the new plants unfleeced as it was warm in late May.

[Author]

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