Sweetcorn - when do you plant out?

[Paulottie]

Farmers here put corn in close together - but they are harvesting for winter forage for the cows. When the corn is very ripe - too dry to eat as sweetcorn, they cut it and chop it and blow it into huge long poly bags - about the thickness of a round straw bale and about 40 ft long - to keep for winter. Too close isn't a good way to maximise cobs, I don't think.

Indeed Flum, There is a world of difference between maize for cattle and hybrid supersweet corn. 15" apart is standard....I guess you might be able to push a foot.(staggered rows with lined up leaves etc.)

Still the best tip for sweetcorn is to save up water bottles and use them as cloches..(can even be used as mouse protection for ripening cob for those with the problem)

Don't put too much muck on the bed as you end up with all plant and less cobs. Mulch with grass clippings once you are well beyond slug damage...the butternuts will appreciate it too.....I'd forget the beans...requires a masterpiece of timing.

[zazen999]

The roots are out the bottom of the loo rolls.. have I sown them too eary? Would it be worth me planting them out and covering with something?

I'd put each into their own pot, so that the roots can carry on growing.

[Welsh Wizard]

I now have all 40 of my first sowing planted out, despite the frost earlier this week.. A test dozen planted out a few days ago have survived. I am advised by Deutches Wetter that the lowest night time temp in the next week will be about 6 degrees C so I have decided to go for it! I also have my January sown Toms out of the greenhouse to sink or swim as they see fit. The second wave of toms have been moved from the window sill to the cold greenhouse to harden off a bit.

[gigleypants]

Well this year I have my sweetcorn growing away in the coldframe and plan to plant out May bank holiday and also have courgette growing to plant between them so will be leaving about 12" between each one .... kinda a two sisters thing going on I guess

Gigleypants

[chris]

Can you put them closer than 12" in a raised bed? My beds are 2'6" wide, so would really rather get more than 2 in... May try this lot closer together, and then my second wave that I'll sow later this week at 12 to see the difference.

[ZeroMac]

I planted the sweetcorns 12- 14inches apart last year (much to OHs concern) and they did really well. Had pumpkins and squashes rambling beneath them.

Reet
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I have never planted sweetcorn but the OH loves it. can you plant this amongst the Pumpkins or just let the pumpkin vine spread over to the sweetcorn bed?

[gigleypants]

Yes try it the sweetcorn's roots dont need much room I guess as they grow down from the main stalk and anchor it in so I think you could get away with 6-8" but be careful not to under water them remember they are a thirsty plant and to have sweet plump corn you may need to water more often the more you have together ... as for pollination planting closer must be a bonus so the pollen has more chance of doing its job ... let me know what you decide to do ... and good luck

gigleypants

[chris]

I've gone for roughly 7.5 inches apart, so we'll see how these lot do. They've grown loads over night Quite shocked.

[Liza]

I've gone for roughly 7.5 inches apart, so we'll see how these lot do. They've grown loads over night Quite shocked.

Hope you use a tape measure Chris, we know what you blokes are like with your measurements !

[chris]

I'll have you know I left 7.5 between the rows too!!!


Was quite tempted to take the tone of this thread sub-zero, but well I've not been around long enough for that yet ;0

[binley100]

It is a family forum ............

[reetnproper]

I have never planted sweetcorn but the OH loves it. can you plant this amongst the Pumpkins or just let the pumpkin vine spread over to the sweetcorn bed?

I plant the sweetcorn uniformaly around the pumpkins/squashes, so they form neat regimented rows with the squash plants rambling between them.

Amazingly I've managed to find a picture taken not too long after planting and you can see the sweetcorn rows with the pumpkins spaced amongst them.

HTH Reet
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