Snobaby Sweetcorn

[Hillwalker]

Even though I don't know where I'm going to put them, I'd like to try growing some baby sweetcorn for our granddaughter, who loves them.

I've searched older posts for suggested varieties and found that 'Minipop' was pretty much universally slated. Searching online, I found a type called 'Snobaby' from T&G: Sweetcorn 'Snobaby' - All Other Vegetable Seeds - Thompson & Morgan

Does anyone have any experience with this one? As I'm growing another sweetcorn variety, 'Extra Tender & Sweet', I'm also concerned about cross-pollination. I know to pick off baby sweetcorn before they're pollinated, but will the plant continue to produce tassels and silks?

[chris]

I've not heard of it, but have wanted to grow baby sweet corn.. I'd be interested if you'd be willing to post your findings back if you do grow them. Like you, I was intending to grow minipop but after reading about it here gave it a wide birth!

[Florence Fennel]

I must stop reading these sorts of threads - I just haven't got the space! Yet.

[Hillwalker]

Will do Chris. From your blog, looks like Seren's partial to the stuff.

[chris]

Exactly the reason why! The stuff you buy in the shops is bland, watery and tasteless - she's after the good stuff hehe.

[bethduckie]

what's wrong with minipop? Or perhaps I don't want to know, seeing as that's what I've got in the ground at t'lottie right now!

[rustylady]

what's wrong with minipop? Or perhaps I don't want to know, seeing as that's what I've got in the ground at t'lottie right now!

I really don't think you want to know, but if it succeeds for you please let us know how you did it.

[Helgalush]

I have some baby sweetcorn from Thomson & Morgan - it seems to be doing ok - about 15cm tall at the moment (4 plants only as its all I can fit in and my first year trying it). It just says "Zea mays "Baby Corn" so I dont know if Zea mays is the type or what! Good luck.

[Hillwalker]

It just says "Zea mays "Baby Corn" so I dont know if Zea mays is the type or what! Good luck.

Zea mays, or maize, is simply another word for corn. Would be interesting if you can find out what variety yours is.

[Helgalush]

Zea mays, or maize, is simply another word for corn. Would be interesting if you can find out what variety yours is.

Ooops. I had a feeling I might have done that!

It doesnt say anything else - just "Baby Corn"

ETA: this one: http://www.eseeds.com/v-6191-zea-mays-baby-corn.aspx

[Hillwalker]

It doesnt say anything else - just "Baby Corn"

Hmmm.....We might have to get CSI in! - Corn Species Investigators.

[Helgalush]

yes indeedy!

I have added a link in my last post above...if that sheds any more light?! These dont seem to be on T&M's website any more (that I could see).

[Hillwalker]

The images in the link do look very similar to T&G's 'Minor' variety: Sweetcorn 'Minor' F1 Hybrid (Mini Vegetable) - All Other Vegetable Seeds - Thompson & Morgan Which, in turn, looks similar to the notorious 'Minipop' (sorry, bethducki). Either way, my gut feeling is still to try 'Snobaby'.

If nobody's tried it, can someone still advise me whether I might have problems with cross-pollination, as per my first post?

Edit: Thinking about it: no. As long as I pick them before the tassels fully form to produce seeds, then cut down the plant or cut off the tassels. Then there shouldn't be a problem with the other variety I've planted.

[realfood]

The real danger is to the TM extra tender and sweet, which is Swift by another name, which is a tendersweet variety. If the pollen tassels of the minipop are open at the same time as the silks on Swift, then swift is likely to be badly affected with loss of sweetness and tenderness.

[Hillwalker]

The real danger is to the TM extra tender and sweet, which is Swift by another name, which is a tendersweet variety. If the pollen tassels of the minipop are open at the same time as the silks on Swift, then swift is likely to be badly affected with loss of sweetness and tenderness.

Exactly so, realfood. That was the question and, hopefully, answer I'd proposed.