Recommend a sweetcorn variety please

[womble]

For me, last year 'extra tender and sweet f1' were really good - 2 or 3 good size cobs per plant.

That seems very closely spaced, just shows how close they can be grown and still produce a very good crop, better than those of us who planted at the RRP distance

I presume that the bed was in good heart and had lots of manure etc. Just in case anyone thinks you can plant at that distance in not so good soil.

(is this the bit where you tell me that you hadn't shown the bed any manure or compost for five years )

Shirl, I think maybe you must be doing something wrong, I know the weather was bad, but it wasn't that bad.
Some things just don't like growing in certain places.
Sweetcorn really doesn't like windy sites and I like them to be as big as possible before I put them outside, then I still protect them for another couple of weeks.

Rossa, I'm steadily coming to the same conclusion as your friend, leaving the young plants inside as long as possible, instead of this mad rush to get everything out as early as possible.

[shirlthegirl43]

Shirl, I think maybe you must be doing something wrong, I know the weather was bad, but it wasn't that bad.
Some things just don't like growing in certain places.
Sweetcorn really doesn't like windy sites and I like them to be as big as possible before I put them outside, then I still protect them for another couple of weeks.

There is usually not much wind in our garden but last year it never stopped raining or blowing a gale for ages. Everything I planted was blasted to bits between wind and rain and the only successful crop was a row ofAlderman peas.

[realfood]

My method of growing sweetcorn successfully for the last 6 years in Glasgow is
Sow indoors in heat, at 20 C, on top of the compost to prevent the seed rotting, in individual cells in late April. Remember that there is no point in sowing the seed too early, or the plants will become too big before you can plant them out into their final growing positions, when danger of frost has passed. Move the plants to a cooler frost free location such as a cold frame or greenhouse.

Plant out in June in a sunny, sheltered position, when all danger of frost is past in your area. In Northern areas, I would recommend continuing to provide cloche protection for the first month or so, to counter the effects of late frosts or cold winds.
I always now grow Extra Tender and Sweet (tendersweet) varieties
Swift F1. Very early, very sweet and tender.
Lark F1. Mid season, very sweet and tender.
There is further information on my website.

[Bazza]

I grew conqueror, an F1 hybrid for the first ime last year. Started them off in roottrainers and kept them inside, waiting for the space where my first early potatoes had been planted. Hardened them off outdoors then planted them in the ground immediately after my last spuds were lifted. They did okay, most cobs were filled and I had about 1 or 2 cobs from each plant. Planted in blocks about 15" apart.

[elizajay]

Have you tried:
Seeds By Post, mail order seeds direct to your door at great value, cheap seeds. Huge selection of 1000's of seeds for sale including flowers, fruit, herbs and seeds for kids. We stock seeds from suttons, fothergills, johnsons, Ulmins, Unwins, Thomps
the postage is free

[rogesse]

All good advice. I had grown corn successfully up until last year then it went all....well wrong and I got nothing!

Too wet, too far apart and in partial shade and frankly too cocky! (me not the corn)

My reputation couldn't suffer another disaster so I'm taking all the advice on board.
Last year I tried 'Double Standard' from Real Seed but I suspect it was my 'I know best' approach rather than the seed that was to blame. The left over Double Standard seed is getting a second chance in the garden this year but, on the recommendation of others it will be 'Conqueror F1' on the allotment

[Lazgaot]

I 've ordered some sweetcorn (and a bunch of other seeds) from RealSeeds.co.uk. They only have a couple of varieties and you can save the seed and plant them again next year. Delivery was a few days.

[rogesse]

Not knocking realseed - I've already got several varieties of all sorts growing from saved seed from last year. Unfortunately unless you grow industrial amounts of corn (over 200 plants) the seed is not worth saving - they say this themselves.

I'm really looking forward to trying their Quinoa this year and will be growing the exploding cucumber again - totally inedible but great fun doing exactly what they say not to do - giving it a good poke before running away.....fast!

[Gwyndy]

Last year I grew Miracle f1 - very good results despite an awful summer. This year I am trying Sweet Bounty f1. If you do opt for an f1 variety watch out for other varieties growing nearby as you may get unwanted cross-pollination.

[Hazel at the Hill]

That seems very closely spaced, just shows how close they can be grown and still produce a very good crop, better than those of us who planted at the RRP distance

I presume that the bed was in good heart and had lots of manure etc. Just in case anyone thinks you can plant at that distance in not so good soil.

(is this the bit where you tell me that you hadn't shown the bed any manure or compost for five years )

D'you know, I didn't realise, but you're quite right - I've just been to look it up and Hessayon says plant out 18" each way. Problem is that I don't take the books to the Hill, so I tend to space things out so that they look 'right', which by chance does seem to have worked!

I hadn't mucked/fed that part of the plot particularly - however the allotment has been worked for donkeys years before we took it over two years ago.

Reading these comments, I wont rush to sow the seeds this year - a mid May sowing to plant out mid June seems to work well here on our site in the Midlands.

Let me know if you're struggling to get hold of the T&M seed, Shirley - the Wyevale GC is just up the road from the Hill, and I will be going in anyway on Saturday (as you do!) so will be happy to pick some up for you.

[pipscariad]

Have you tried:
Seeds By Post, mail order seeds direct to your door at great value, cheap seeds. Huge selection of 1000's of seeds for sale including flowers, fruit, herbs and seeds for kids. We stock seeds from suttons, fothergills, johnsons, Ulmins, Unwins, Thomps
the postage is free

There you have it Shirley, they have the seeds you want (I think - got an 'orrible cold today and feel as though my head's full of cotton wool ), and no P & P! I've bookmarked it for future use as it looks a good site.

[djhs196]

Interesting comments on the better pollination success with a later planting. In previous years I think I've sown indoors late March / April, transplanted out in early May, harvested in July. Plants have always done well and the cobs great tasting - but 2nd cob gappy. I think I'll keep to the spacing and adj the timing for this year.

[bluemoon]

I've tries loads of new varieties over the years; Swift, Conqueror, Northern Extra Sweet. All have been rubbish. The best, and the one I keep coming back to is Sundance. It's never let me down, even this far north and with the past two awful summers. I've never shaken the plants either, just left them to get on with it and they've always done well. My main problem is the squirrels which have developed a taste for them.

[faerieprincess]

I've tries loads of new varieties over the years; Swift, Conqueror, Northern Extra Sweet. All have been rubbish. The best, and the one I keep coming back to is Sundance. It's never let me down, even this far north and with the past two awful summers. I've never shaken the plants either, just left them to get on with it and they've always done well. My main problem is the squirrels which have developed a taste for them.

Squirrels? Did you say squirrels?????!!!!! I've been feeding a couple of squirrels here, don't tell me they're going to steal my sweetcorn????!!!!!

[kentvegplot]

Grew 'Sweetie' last year. Germination was a bit patchy, but once out they did very well. Planted mid-April, harvested mid-August. My site is quite sheltered, which I think helped a lot. I put 16 in a block 2m x 1m (if I remember correctly).

Really, really tasty!