Sweetcorn not growing?

[moggssue]

Can anyone help uncover why my sweetcorn has stopped growing?

All was going really well, hardened them off before planting out on the lottie (never grown them before so thought I'd looked after them really well). They went a bit yellow, which I assumed was the shock of the move, and whilst they are still yellowy, they havent got any worse.

Now, three weeks later, although the stems did start to thicken up they're not getting any taller. The crops in the surrounding beds are all doing fine, so I dont THINK its a watering or temperature issue, and they're under a tall net to keep off bunnies and the like. I'm at a loss ... anyone got any ideas?? Are sweetcorn really fussy feeders or something??

[Alison]

How tall are they now?

[PAULW]

My sweetcorn have flowered and I have cobs on a couple of them and they are only about a foot high so I have started watering, very dry down here in tropical Dorset

[TinyT]

Hmmm, difficult one. Sometimes they may just need a bit of a kick-start. Have you tried a bit of feed on them?

[moggssue]

They're about a foot tall, and have been for weeks now.

I havent fed them as such, but did put BFB in the ground before planting them out. The crops around them (beans in the bed on one side, spuds on the other) are all perfectly fine and healthy and growing away (when I can keep the rabbits off them that is) which is why I didnt bother to feed.

Maybe I'll pop down tonight and give them a bit of a multifeed??

[rustylady]

Did you make sure to water them in well when you transplanted? Don't know about you, but it's been a bit dry here for a couple of weeks. I don't water much on the lottie, but I do make sure I give new transplants a really good soak, and then again a week or so later if it hasn't rained. Had to water my butternuts tonight.

[Nicos]

Sweetcorn is a heavy demander of water- I'd give them a really good soaking for a couple of days...and then stand back!!!!

[TinyT]

Last year I was a little late with my sweetcorn and they were pretty slow; it appeared to do the trick. I guess you could try it on a couple, and if they respond do the rest.

[moggssue]

Thanks folks - gave them a quick feed last night, and will have more time to spare this evening so will give them another soak (if it doesnt rain today, which is always possible!). This is my first time with sweetcorn and I'd really love to get even a small crop ....

[jonohanson]

I'm no expert but the same had happened to mine once the got to a foot or so tall they seemed to stop growing, they stayed like this for the last month and then over this last week of heavy rain they have doubled and more in size and now when I look down the middle I see little cobs forming.

One question though, some of my sweetcorn plants have quite big off shoots at the base, do I just leave these??

Many Thanks

[djhs196]

It's my second year with sweet corn - the first year is even on the avatar picture, would you look at that!

Last year and this year they both seemed to "hang" in suspended animation for quite awhile after been transplanted. Nothing seemed to happen for an age - poss. for 4 / 5 weeks?

I know that they hate root disturbance and so grow them in foot long home made paper pots and am careful to harden off and during the transplant itself so it may be related to this.

However, they get thru this stage and then they seem to go off like a rocket. This year's seem to be all over the place - I've a few that haven't moved (small, weed, a foot tall), and the "leader" that's three foot tall and an inch thick.

And yes, all planted at the same time, right next to each other, same treatment - go figure. I'm sure the small ones will catch up when they get going!

[Two_Sheds]

they may not be doing much above ground, but the roots will be establishing underground.

[Moyra]

Mine are about three foot high and I have kept them fairly well watered but no sign of any cobs yet. I am however growing them in grow bags for the first time so am concerned that perhaps the depth of soil they have may be short of what they expect. However I am not panicking yet.........live in hope of seeing some fruit very soon.

[lynda66]

well, i sowed some direct in the ground, which haven't done anything at all, some in fibre pots, out of 15 only 2 germinated, the other seeds rotted so i soaked the last of them for 2 days, and then planted them out with the 2 that germinated, just to see, and in 2 weeks, nothing, and the seedling ones were planted straight in the ground in the fibre pots, and they are still only 2- 3 inches high, don't think i'll be eating corn this year

[Gardeners Delight]

I've had the same problem with mine & it definitely isnt lack of water in my case, given the weather weve had here