does sweetcorn bolt?

[crazii_c]

this is my first time growing sweetcorn. does it bolt? mine has gone to flower and yet its only as high as my knee!

[rustylady]

That's what it's supposed to do!! The flower bit that's forming at the top of the plant carries the pollen which will hopefully drop down onto the female tassels that will form round the base of the plant.

[crazii_c]

so will it keep growing in height then? i always imagined they would be as tall as me before they flower.

[rustylady]

Final height depends on the variety and growing conditions, but yes the flower that is just emerging will grow considerably taller than it is now.

[taff]

it's a bit deceptive when it first appears, but it'll take a while longer before it's completely out, and then a bit longer before the pollen is ready.

[zazen999]

I'm ignoring my sweetcorn. It worked with my cukes; I've had 3 since whingeing on here about them.

[Suky]

Yours are the same as mine, supposed to be 6ft, only 4 ft max and flowering and forming cobs. They haven't grown in height for at least 3 weeks, perhaps it's the weather we're having?

[Alison]

My corn is pathetic this year. I rarely do that well with it (think it's cos I don't like the stuff so put more effort into nice veggies than the ones I just grow for OH) but was advised last year by a guy from the National Veg Growers that if I wanted a good crop I should sow earlier so I did and the plants were brilliant when then went out. Fully hardened off and everything but have just sulked since and are now pretty much the same height and flowering. Not holding my breath on them and continuing to ignore them. OH isn't impressed

[kingkano]

Alison - I have to agree with the sow earlier bit but you need to molly coddle them. Put them out early with a cloche over and they seem to do really well. This is my 2nd year doing it this way and mine are almost ready to harvest! I sowed them back end of March and planted them out start of April. Left the cloche on till middle of May (you might need a bit longer further north).

[jackie j]

Mine are pathetic as well but I have a flower on at least one, neighbours are nearly as tall as me but I havent seen any flowers on hers.

[Tattie-muncher]

My corn is about two foot tall, with a few leaves, nothing startling, but can I ask, is it alright to grow out in the garden amongst my other crops, or should I have it undercover

[susieq100]

Mine is surprisingly short this year and has started to flower and I've got one or two cobs and tassels appearing and none of them are over 4ft tall, a couple are only 2-3 feet tall. I left mine under a mini poly tunnel for 3 weeks after I put them out. I assumed that it is the strange weather we've had and the fact that I have not watered as frequently as I should have. I'm going to give them a good feed and cross my fingers! My OH adores corn, I grow it for him so he is a bit disappointed so far. Especially when he compares my pathetic effort to the stuff growing in the fields around here.

[crazii_c]

yeah ive also not watered mine as much as they probably need. thats due to my limited water on my plot, and its been so dry here. looks like it might be mini cobs for me this year, if any! i'll just have to up my watering and cross my fingers!