growing sweetcorn

[Two_Sheds]

They grow the same height as normal sweetcorn: 4'-6' depending on conditions

[Mrs Dobby]

Yes, our's are already started, I planted then into propogators about 2 weeks ago, we've now got 3 trays of about 35 each at between 1" and 4" tall, they are currently in the bedroom windowsill, but will be going into the greenhouse at home today, we will be planting them out sometime in the next 4 weeks, usually the first week in May (which is early, but we've been fortunate with the weather for the past 4 years). Good luck with yours!

PS There is a vid on our blog showing the seedlings at home, the last big of which shows the sweetcorn in the modules

[leonmc0708]

Got some sweetcorn - in proporgators now but just in seed trays and not in root trainers.

noticed (reading this thread) everyone has them in those root trainers - is this important ?

Where will I get some of them nice and cheap ?

[chris]

They're not cheap really to be honest, I got mine cheaper than usual (half price) during a sale event. They're usually around £8.

They're basically just deep modules, that open up like books.

Kitchen roll tubes work the same, but watering them has to be done carefully as they can collapse/end up mouldy

I use both.

[Mrs Dobby]

Ours are in standard 40 cell seed trays, have been using them for the past 4 years with no problem whatsoever, I know that root trainers will give more depth, but its not something we've had problems with

[rpt]

Kitchen roll tubes work the same, but watering them has to be done carefully as they can collapse/end up mouldy

So how do you water kitchen/loo rolls so they don't got mouldy?

[chris]

Just a little at a time - trying not to wet the cardboard tube (doesn't always happen), rather than from the bottom like I do with root trainers, and pots.

[Alison]

I have more trouble with loo rolls drying out than falling apart but always use root trainers for my beans and sweet corn as I have invested and find them easier to support and move around as well - plus we don't use enough loo roll for all those we'd need

[rpt]

Just a little at a time - trying not to wet the cardboard tube (doesn't always happen), rather than from the bottom like I do with root trainers, and pots.

Doesn't the cardboard get wet by sucking water out of the compost?

I have more trouble with loo rolls drying out than falling apart but always use root trainers for my beans and sweet corn as I have invested and find them easier to support and move around as well - plus we don't use enough loo roll for all those we'd need

How long do root trainers last - can you use them over and over for many years?

[veggiechicken]

rpt, Have a look at my experimental homemade root trainers and all the discussions about them. http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ers_63639.html
All the seedlings are still growing but no more photos.

[Alison]

How long do root trainers last - can you use them over and over for many years?

It depends on how brutal you are with them. My oldest ones are about 10 years old and are used over and over each year. So far have grown two lots of broad beans (now planted out), sweet peas (still in them), sweet corn (still in them), 2 lots of 10 heritage pea seeds (still in them) and will be sowing runner, French and bolotti beans in them in the near future. A few of them are no longer properly attached at the bottom but they still hold togehter well in the stands and in my oppinion are well worth the expenditure and although people have made their own the modular layout of them in a block is a major advantage to store 32 quite reasonably sized plants in a very small area.