Possible to grow different varieties of corn?

[magz.mccarthy]

Hi,

I want to grow 2 varieties of corn on my plot this year - Ashworth sweetcorn from the Real Seeds company and Strawberry popcorn from T&M. Is it possible to grow these both in the same plot or will they cross pollinate eachother and produce weirdo heads of corn? I realise that it won't be possible to save the seeds for fear of ape-mongrel-sweetcorn hybrid children, but would the plants both produce their different edible corn this year?

Margaret

[Alison]

No probs at all unless you want to seed save and anyway, saving seed off corn is pretty difficult as you need a heck of a lot of plants to get good strong viable seeds.

[pigletwillie]

The only real no no is to sow super sweet F1 varieties next to standard varieties as you can lose some of the sweetness.

[magz.mccarthy]

Brilliant that's great news! I'm really looking forward to growing both of them and didn't want to have to make the difficult decision of which one to abandon till next year!

[burnie]

They are wind polinated so remember to plant in blocks not rows and if you're worried about cross polination,can you plant them away from each other?

[rogesse]

Grew normal corn - Double standard from real seed and strawberry popcorn last year with no adverse affects. The only problem was the weather.

[Alison]

Tried double standard last year, didn't do very well and it only grew about 3' tall but think it was the weather so am trying again this year.

[di]

The Postie brought me my little package of seeds this morning...ordered online only a couple of days ago.Amongst them are some Strawberry Popcorn...thought it would be a fun one to grow with the kiddies.I chose it mainly with the intention of letting it dry out & use as popping corn,but out of interest can it be eaten like normal sweetcorn...pretty cool shape & colour to dish up on the plate,but not if it's not gonna taste right!???

[magz.mccarthy]

As far as I know it's only suitable as popping corn - i think it grows with really hard skin on the kernels. Could be wrong though?

[Gwyndy]

I think that you will only have a cross-pollination problem with F1 varieties.

[Flummery]

You don't get any problems with the corn you are going to eat this year - whether it's open pollinated or F1. You will only have problems with saved seed.

[Gwyndy]

You don't get any problems with the corn you are going to eat this year - whether it's open pollinated or F1. You will only have problems with saved seed.

I beg to differ. Seed packets for F1 varieties almost always warn against planting close to other varieties because of effects on the crop, not the seed.

[Demeter]

I beg to differ. Seed packets for F1 varieties almost always warn against planting close to other varieties because of effects on the crop, not the seed.

I have read that too, but not many on here seems to think it's particularly true in practice? Would be interested to know if anyone has tested this out!

[Gwyndy]

I am growing Johnsons 'Sweet Bounty F1' this year. On the seed packet they state - "Grow isolated from 'sugary enhanced' types to avoid starchy cobs". I guess they know what they are talking about.

[Flummery]

I beg to differ. Seed packets for F1 varieties almost always warn against planting close to other varieties because of effects on the crop, not the seed.

Never heard that one before - still you're never too old to learn! I'm growing an F1 this year which says nothing about isolating it from other corns.