which sweetcorn

[sallym]

Can any one advise me which variety of sweetcorn to grow please? I am going to try a 2 sisters bed next year with corn and courgettes/squashes. I have room for quite a few sweetcorn plants and would like maximum crop but without loosing this fantastic GYO sweetcorn flavour that I cant wait to taste.

[rustylady]

I've grown Swift & Conqueror this year. Both excellent results, though last year Swift failed to germinate (2 separate lots of seeds from different sources).

[Two_Sheds]

Swift & Conqueror for me too. Terrific crop, very sweet. More than one cob on the Swift plants, which was a bonus.

[daylily]

Your choice of corn at your location is probably quite limitless of those on offer and no doubt you shall get a lot of testimonies to that with particular recommendations.

I would not push the sisters thing much, myself, of course, it's your call but plant them as far apart as you can.

[Comfreyfan]

I did the 3 sisters thing this year. I felt it was all a bit of a jungle, the squash just went wild. But I can't deny the results - I've had really good crops from corn, beans and squash. The corn needs to be fairly close though for pollination.

[daylily]

So what are you growing there next year, Comfrey? And please let us know how well it does.

[Demeter]

Is it possible to grow 2 different varieties of sweet corn near one another? I had heard / read somewhere (here?) that they will cross pollinate and the cobs won't be as good?

I've got some blue hopi to grow next year and i want to try and save the seeds (has to be worth a go, the price you have to pay for it!) but I only have 15 seeds and even if they all germinate that WON'T be enough sweetcorn! So I was hoping to grow something else too.

Second question - is it worth succession sowing or is it better to have them all at about the same stage so that there is more pollen about the place?

Thoughts?

[bluemoon]

I've grown the three sisters this year and intend to put root crops, but not onions or potatoes, there next time.

[Paulottie]

Is it possible to grow 2 different varieties of sweet corn near one another? I had heard / read somewhere (here?) that they will cross pollinate and the cobs won't be as good?

I've got some blue hopi to grow next year and i want to try and save the seeds (has to be worth a go, the price you have to pay for it!) but I only have 15 seeds and even if they all germinate that WON'T be enough sweetcorn! So I was hoping to grow something else too.

Second question - is it worth succession sowing or is it better to have them all at about the same stage so that there is more pollen about the place?

Thoughts?

Supersweet f1 varieties won't come true to type if you save seed.... true ..but then again I've had very good results with saved honey bantam in the past...almost all true with two slightly different (but nice cobs) and it is expensive seed so worth a go. I Tried to direct sow some saved sundance this year but failed 0/100!!!... nevermind badgers always get them at the lottie anyway

It is possible that seed saved from blue hopi will come true...(sorry don't know that sort....coloured cobs?) if grown in relative isolation...problematic on a lottie

I grew 80+ brought sundance to succulent maturity at home...from sowing 4 fortnightly batches of 24 in 3" pots. we love sweetcorn but F1's do turn in at the same time and it is good to spread the season. They are only at their peak sweetness for a shortish time. and this is the secret of sweetcon..knowing when they are at their best

They do say that you shouldn't grow different varietals too close together. They are wind pollinated after all best avoided (i don't like to gamble with sweetcorn!) but then heck,,, life and space can be short!!

[daylily]

Demeter, my last lot of corn is just coming near maturity, it is possible to have a time gap between the flowering of a few lots. But, as said, someone next to you will have corn too.

It is only a problem with supersweets though, I believe, and if you want to save seeds of course.

[Demeter]

Think I will grow the blue hopi at home (no veg-growing neighbours!) to give me a chance of getting true seed. And avoid supersweets on the allotment!

This is the stuff: http://www.jungleseeds.com/images/SweetCornHopi.JPG

I had read somewhere that there was no point trying to save sweetcorn seed unless you are growing at least 200 plants, because they were unlikely to come true. But maybe I got it round my a**e?! (Wouldn't be the first time.)

Thanks... Succession sowing too, eh? - I'm getting dead ambitious now

[HayleyB]

I have F1 Swift and done really well with it this year, had some cobs last night for dinner, they're a good size lovely and sweet and I've got twos and some threes per plant. They do take up a lot of space (I had about 25 plants) so next year I am planning to plant a few squash varieties with the swifts I was inspired by the lovely old boy on GYO tv programme who had corn with butternuts.

[Demeter]

I have F1 Swift and done really well with it this year, had some cobs last night for dinner, they're a good size lovely and sweet and I've got twos and some threes per plant. They do take up a lot of space (I had about 25 plants) so next year I am planning to plant a few squash varieties with the swifts I was inspired by the lovely old boy on GYO tv programme who had corn with butternuts.

A word of warning re butternuts - they like the hotter weather - we tried them this year and planted a few amongst the sweetcorn but because of the rubbish weather the squash just didn't grow: one fruit off about 6 plants. We are trying different varieties next year more suited to the UK climate!

[HayleyB]

Thanks Demeter, I haven't got butternuts I have Marina Di Chioggia, Sunshine F1, and Winter Festival F1 would I have to keep them separate I was thinking that I could use all three types on the same plot or is that a daft idea?

[Comfreyfan]

My butternut were so late getting going I'm not sure if I'll end up with anything from them. The Turks Turban were a bit late starting but have caught up and overtaken themselves!!

The squash will be in there until first frosts, so I'll be 'resting' this bed now until the potatoes go in.

I put all the sweetcorn in at once, they sit on the plant happily for a while or if there are just too many, they blanch and freeze well. I can't remember which type I grew this year - packet seems to have vanished and it's the one variety I didn't put on my list (typical), but I wish I knew because they've got lovely straight rows of kernels, without gaps - they look like supermarket ones only more golden and shinier, and the taste is amazing - unlike the supermarket ones!!