Whither art thou O my sweet (corn)?

[doc]

Hey all
I started off with my sweetcorn in the kitchen and planted it out a few weeks ago. They've grown to about 12-18 inches and the leaves look lovely but over the last 2 weeks I havent seen any progress. This is my first time - so am I even meant to see anything? I would have thought fruits develop from flowers...I cant see any flowers. Not that I'd recognise a sweetcorn flower if it smacked me in the face. So should I start worrying?

[taff]

no.
The cobs grow from the sides, the flower spike grows from the center and ends up at the top where the pollen gets wind-blown or shaken onto the tassles of the cobs to fertilise them. [I think that makes sense....?]

[zazen999]

There's not much you can do now, so just leave them to it.....you'll hopefully get something and they usually shoot up in a warm wet spell...mine have started steaming ahead over the last week or so.

[Alice]

Mine are about ready for eating now.
Corn wants a long growing season so I start them early - I can extend the season at the beginning but not at the end if that makes sense.
They start by making the male tassles out of the top, then the female cobs (the bits you eat) appear out of the axles at the sides. Hope that gives you the pictutre.
I'm getting about 2 cobs per plant. I think that's about average.

[kate&rob]

when do you plant yours then alice? do you grow them for quite a while in a green house, i would have thought that your geographical location would mean you were later than most.

[rustylady]

Hey all
I started off with my sweetcorn in the kitchen and planted it out a few weeks ago. They've grown to about 12-18 inches and the leaves look lovely but over the last 2 weeks I havent seen any progress. This is my first time - so am I even meant to see anything

Not yet you won't - sweetcorn grow to about four or five feet tall - try googling for information