Sweetcorn - ideal conditions

[Cutecumber]

Sweetcorn are a bit of a mystery to me - they are not in any of the other vegetable groupings and I tend to put them in the ground and, well, keep my fingers' crossed! They grow, they get no pests, and they eventually give me a small crop. Pretty easy, I guess. The yields are small, though, compared to what others have reported.

My 12 plants of Sundance have been rather slow to cob-up this year and whereas they started with two cobs each, only one has grown to the proper size. I think they will all produce one good cob, but they are much later than ever before. Note - I have never had more than one cob per plant, in fact.

What are the key issues for sweetcorn growing? My understanding is that they like rich soil, plenty of sun and a good amount of water. I have had none of these, so I may be lucky even to get one cob off each!!

Has anyone experimented with planting distances and noted a difference?

[greenlung]

Hi - Grew sweetcorn for the first time this year ('Incredible' F1) quite close together in a small block formation with sunflowers inbetween, which I thought would look good & help with support & pollination. Apart from the deluges which we've all had, I've watered a bit extra over the past sunny month.

Seem to have between none & 3 cobs on each plant, some large & perfectly formed, others small & unevenly pollinated. I shook each stem occasionally to help with pollination.

The ones which I do have are deliciously sweet - the best I've ever tasted. Next year I'll plant more, which should help with pollination & leave out the sunflowers.

Don't know how crucial spacing is though.

[scared55]

Interestingly, during the two years I spent in East Africa (SW Tanzania), I noticed that the maize plantations all had alternate rows of maize and sunflowers. Scarey55 planted about 9 this year (Bonanza HF1) and we have had three or four cobs per plant, again some full others not fully pollinated and absolutely gorgeous, especially raw straight from the plant (no, we are not the Swindon Neanderthals)

[Paulottie]

Hi CuteC, also growing Sundance and only getting 1 1/2 super delicious cobs per plant. I sow in batches to extend the season. In a good year 2 1/2 per plant (usually with honey bantam)-They definately like the sun and 1' spacings. They like it rich but too much nitrogen can mean all plant and no sweertcorn. I planted over 120 seeds all in 3" pots. a wind break or plastic bottle cloches help with early sowings. You could try grass clipping mulches and growing butternuts through them to increase productivity of space.

I've Just had my latest batch eaten by badgers,or possibly deer. that was inspite of chicken wire defenses too...really p*ssed off. I'll be lucky to get the last batch to mature. I feed the substandard ones to the chickens and nothing is wasted as the whole family and guinea pig love them.

[JennieAtkinson]

Well my sweetcorn have not had much sun this year, but they are in the polytunnel. I have to pollinate myself (quick shake of the tassels everytime I walk past), but I've got a great harvest just about ready.

I grew the seeds in the pots first and got them well established before planting out and I put them in ground dug over with chicken manure pellets. I've watered them reasonably well, but find it difficult with the two squash I planted underneath!

Last year I just had two plants which were great with two cobs each. This year I've planted nine plants in a block and have two cobs on each plant, but baby plants and further cobs growing at the bottom.

The variety is Butterscotch - I'll let you know how they taste in the next couple of days!

[Two_Sheds]

I only get one cob per plant...not very efficient use of the space, but they are a treat. Tuxedo F1 is very nice, tastes buttered without adding butter. My corn stayed upright this year...I earthed it up, which really helped against the gales. I will try and grow even more next year, but greenhouse space is limited ...

... guinea pigs eat the leaves and the empty cobs, so no waste

[Paulottie]

Yes TS, i've heard eathing up is a good idea against windrock and, they will root from the stem like toms.

[yoanbob]

I havnt had much luck with corn either, last year off 3 plants i got 4 half cobs this year off 10 plants about 3 half cobs, to be honest last year was an experiment and this year we did it with the nephews so they went in where the boys wanted them and not in any kind of planned way a bit too late as well, i will try again more seriously next year tho as the taste is exquisite.