growing sweetcorn

[Normans Mum]

Hi all. Perhaps I'm being a little ambitious first time around, but I've planted some sweetcorn (in modules) and hope to plant out. I'm going to plant them in blocks as it suggests in my gardening/lotty tombe, just wondered if anyone in Mancs or surrounding areas has had success with this veg. My plot gets full sun for most of the day but it can be very windy on occasion- sometimes bending anything that's remotely tallish right over some times ! Advice would be much appreciated.

[rustylady]

You may be a little early with sowing, as they shouldn't be planted out until after your last frost date. Good luck with them.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've grown sweetcorn up here successfully so it should be a dawdle for you

[Normans Mum]

thanks for your advice, both. : )

[Creemteez]

When frost danger is passed, plant 'em de-e-e-eeep and earth up a bit round the stems when they've made some growth. They should be fine. Good luck!

[Maccabee]

I've made half arsed attempts twice now, the results mirrored my efforts/organisation. This year will be the year... hopefully.

[Mrs Dobby]

We grow lots of them, usually about 100 or so, with pumpkins and squash planted underneath. Yields arent too bad, usually about 80 or so decent sized full cobs and 100 or so smaller cobs, which we strip to provide sweetcorn niblets for the freezer. Last frost dat is usually the end of may, but we've usually got them planted out in the first week of may and they have been fine for the past 4 years, good luck with growing them!

[Newton]

So have you started yours mrs Dobby? In root trainers or something else? I'm on your latitude so hoping to get mine going soon. They were a bit disappointing last year. I think I held them in root trainers too long as it became cold at the end of may......I was planning to sow at the end of may but I'm itching to get started

[Normans Mum]

thankyou for your advice, all. Happy growing ! : )

[chris]

Mine are about 2 inches tall in root trainers. I've 3 packets on the go, although having big problems with some - have emailed the place where I've got them from in case its a batch issue!

Edit: I'll cover them with fleece and hoops with netting/sheeting over to keep the frost off when I plant mine out should the weather turn.

[Bigmallly]

If you get concerned about them blowing over, tie them to canes. TBH, I've never had to use supports.

[Sanjo]

I have mine (Swift) in root trainers and they are now between 4-6" high. They are just starting to yellow a little and the roots are out of the bottom. My last frost date is late April. In the past I have continued to grow them in buckets sunk into the ground once the spuds are up but this year they have a designated bed and I had hoped to be more organised, but they are more advanced than I expected.
For the sweetcorn experts, should I now give them a weak feed to get rid of the yellow. I am planning on getting them into the ground maybe the end of next week, subject to hardening off. I have a good sized cloche to cover them plus extra fleece for laying over the top if necessary.

[Alison]

Mine are in root trainers and inside at the moment in a cold conservatory. They'll go in the greenhouse in the next week or two and then planted out mid to end of May. I do OK with them, would probably do better if I acutally liked the stuff - really hate the veg (proper devil's food) and only grow for OH but then again the smell makes me heave so not keen on them being cooked when I'm about either.

[hollychap]

i grew them last year for the first time , i was late sowing seeds (may) out of 20 plants i got about a dozen edible cobs which for the taste alone was well worth the effort . my lotties open full sun and i didnt have a problem with wind just crows nipping out the the tops of young plants which i then netted till they were out of reach from standing crows

[briggsy2011]

I have bought 6 mini sweetcorn plug plants to have a go, how tall do these ones grow to? any tips about growing them?