Sweetcorn Germination

[Alison]

Don't nomally grow it as I can't stand the stuff but OH loves it and I fancied trying the Three Sisters thing this year so am giving them a go. Planted them in root trainers in an unheated greenhouse a couple of weeks ago and have had about 80% germination. They're looking pretty healthy so far and shooting up. Think the first one came up within about 5 days.

Didn't do any of that pre-soaking bit as I'm too lazy and nowhere near organised enough.

[kermit]

Thanks for all the advice guys - will put some more in asap and let you know how i get on!

[Paulottie]

I sow mine in loo rolls,after soaking for 24hrs.100% germination in 4 days.Only problem is this time for some reason some have started to die off!!

I found the same prob with loo rolls I think they go mouldy and were not draining well. I prefer 3" pots but am only getting about 60% germination this year- Consistantly over three packets of seed in four batches. I am double careful about correct moisture in compost. I have moaned to Dobies and I am hoping on another packet from them.

[Flummery]

I've had all but 2 of my 24 seeds germinate this year. I'm convinced soaking them the night before is a great help.

[Lesley Jay]

My sweetcorn seeds looked pretty awful and I didn't expect anything from them but 18 out of 20 seeds germinated in just 4 days so I am very pleased.

[punydan]

i soaked mine over night planted in 3" news paper pots on the 26th of april perfick according to luna and got astounding results 94% success. The same with my butternut keept nicely moist in unheated greenhouse.

[King Carrot]

I found the same prob with loo rolls I think they go mouldy and were not draining well. I prefer 3" pots but am only getting about 60% germination this year- Consistantly over three packets of seed in four batches. I am double careful about correct moisture in compost. I have moaned to Dobies and I am hoping on another packet from them.

I have furry & spotty mould on the outside of the Toilet rolls I have the sweetcorn in. I've got about 20 plants up to 2" tall at the moment.

Is this a potential disaster as I was planning on putting them in the ground in around 3-4 weeks???

Any experience or suggestions welcome.

[Paulottie]

Welcome to the vine King Carrot

It wasn't so much the mould that bothered me but the leaves turning yellow. they stopped growing...that said it was first batch of the season probably a bit cool and i must have overwatered them, I planted them out but they don't look good. I've tried before and not had great results plus i've got enough 3" pots these days. Hope yours work out.

Dobies just sent me another triple pack free bless 'em. But with sweetcorn, onions and asparagus we never can grow enough...courgettes and lettuce I always overdo... tried lettuce soup one year! horrid.

[Dobby]

some of our sweetcorn did not apear to have come up but when i tiped them out they had rooted ? so must have planted some depper than others

[Paulottie]

The problem with that Paul is that the seeds will be out of the same batch that gave you poor germination. One year I had 0% germination out of three packets of their tomato seeds. I didn't accept a replacement packet!!

True Lesley, but the last batch was just over 80% success. So that is a bit better (than your 0% anyway). I reckon if i can get 75% of 200 seeds to grow i'll have filled the lotties!! and that'll be 45 plants more than i'd hoped for. they cost me £1.90 so even at 60% it's 120 thats less than 1 1/2p. I do accept that it has been more mucking about than I'd hoped for. (I've still got the link for your recomended seed company tho and I will grow those tomatillos next year)

[Paulottie]

I have furry & spotty mould on the outside of the Toilet rolls I have the sweetcorn in.

Don't want to freak anyone out but just read this thread
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=6900

[Cutecumber]

My sweetcorn has always germinated better in plastic pots or rootrainers.

I've used the proprietary paper tubes and home-made newspaper tubes and they grew more fungus than sweetcorn.

Also, I found Swift to be a very poor germinator - I realise many of you have success with this variety, but I now stick to Sundance. It's foolproof for me in my garden.

[King Carrot]

I actually germinated the seed ("Double Standard" from Real Seeds) on kitchen roll in a margerine tub and got 100% success - the moulds started on the outside of the tubes after about 5 days.

Its something I will rethink for next year especially after seeing the worm thread

although they might be those little white worms I've found in horse manure before which are supposedly harmless and assisting the composting process.

[notmilk]

I have been failry successful - i planted about 15 (doubles) in an unheated propogator which was left on a table outside in the garden. Admitedly it was during the hot sunny patch we had a few weeks ago.
Anyway - all of them germinated (I pulled the smaller seedling up) and i then planted them into my raised bed at the allotment last week. I am a bit concerned about this method, as i later read that they don't like having the roots disturbed and i'm pretty sure i disturbed every one! Oh well we shall wait and see how they get on.

[Mrs Dobby]

We've had about 95% germination of the sweetcorn we've planted, 38 of 40 came thru from the ovation, and 29 of 30 of the swifts, and about 39 of 40 of the minipops, all planted straight into either peat pots / paper pots / seed modules, all planted out last week and all seem to be growing ok!