Sweetcorn

[annie8]

Had decent success last year growing sweetcorn (summer jewel) Started in the greenhouse then then planted out 6 plants. Had some seeds left so growing them again. First lot germinated pretty well - 6 from 8 and are in the cold frame in 2nd pot - about 15cm. They are starting to show roots at the bottom of the pot and not sure if I should pot them on as was hoping to get them in the garden soon. Have heard they are a bit sensitive so maybe too early? Tried to get some more plants growing that I was going to raise in a neighbours greenhouse but they haven’t germinated apart from 1. Too late to try again? Had them in compost pots inside.

[burnie]

I grow mine in the greenhouse as the weather is not good enough to get a decent crop outside up here, I sowed some in cells a couple of weeks ago and planted them in the greenhouse border yesterday. With temps as low as 5 degrees inside the greenhouse, there's no way they would survive outside it.

[bario1]

I’d leave them for a couple more weeks myself, I try and get them as big as possible before planting out. Also, can you rig up some sort of windbreak for them when you plant out? That’s what I do and it really helps them to get established - one cold windy day can really knock them back when they’re young.
As for starting new seeds, there might just be time, they grow very fast in warm weather. I grow Earlibird, had good results with them last year. Possibly better to grow more than 6 as well, for pollination purposes.

[Cadalot]

Where I am sweetcorn is scheduled for sowing this week and not for putting out in the ground until the end of this month beginning of next month.



Lay the corn in a fast food container on wet kitchen towel, put the lid on and then place it under the stairs in the dark for 3 days and you soon see which ones germinate the fastest. I sowed two trays of mine yesterday and left them out in the sun but put them in the greenhouse last night.



I'm giving the slow starters another day and they will be potted on today

[annie8]

Thanks that’s really helpful. Will put them up then and leave in the greenhouse for another few weeks. I have a pretty sheltered garden and certainly they did well outside last year. Maybe being that little bit further south from Angus is enough? Will try the different germination idea. Never tried that before. Was going to plant out the broad beans and courgettes from the cold frame this weekend but take it I should hold off on the peas? I haven’t had a cold frame before and I’m not sure when I can risk putting things out in the raised beds.

[burnie]

I have peas and broad beans up that were sown direct in the raised beds, they do get a bit of shelter from the timber sides though.

[1Bee]

Mine are in root trainers but not showing yet - I chitted them first. When I do plant them out, I cloche them with cut off lemonade bottles. They don't like root disturbance, but also hate cold, so you've got a bit of a balancing act on your hands, I'm afraid. I do think the pop bottle cloches help a lot. You just cut the bottom off, push one into the ground over each plant, leave the lid off the top for ventilation, and when the plant is big enough it just pushes the cloche off, really. I also weed obsessively for this crop, and mulch with grass clippings, because they like nitrogen.

Have fun!

[burnie]

In the greenhouse just now and in the raised bed

[annie8]

Very excited to see some little pea shoots appearing in the raised bed. Guess the first lot didn’t germinate because the soil was too cold. Holding on the ones in the cold frame for now and will plant out in couple of weeks. Did put my broad beans out yesterday. They are just to fill in the gaps in the ones that are already there. Am trying to chit some more sweetcorn and will keep the rest in cold frame for now. Appreciate the advice.