Sweetcorn - Incredible F1 -Spacing...

[GrimChili]

Hi folks,

I have 16 (15 and an extra one) sweetcorn incredible seedlings I think I'm going to risk putting out.

What sorta spacings would people suggest? I was thinking of (bare in mind I have very little space) 5 rows, with 3 in each row. Plant and row spacings 14"...

Whatdyareckon?

GrimChili

[rustylady]

Should be fine. Could you not do 4 x 4? Sweetcorn is better grown in a block rather than rows.

[GrimChili]

Hmm... They'd have to be abit close together, I'm working with a spacing about 40" deep and about 6 ft long... As the distance between rows and plants will be the same it kinda is a block isn't it?

Other wise I guess I could go 12" apart plant wise... would be lap bang against the fence tho...

GrimChili

[rustylady]

Your idea is certainly better than a single row. Just make the most of what you've got.

[GrimChili]

I think I'll see if I can get an equal block in as you suggested if not ill go with the 5 x 3.

Thanks for your suggestion rustylady, my first time growing sweetcorn so its helpful to get other ideas!

In your experience how many cobs would a 14" ish spacing or less give per plant?

Thanks Again!

[kathyd]

I think it's normal to get about 2 cobs per plant... I planted mine really close last year and they seemed to do OK, and I got about 2 per plant, but they were block planted even in the polytunnel - the pollen needs to travel from the dangly bits on the male flowers to the female flowers, and it's carried by wind, so you're more likely to get pollination in a block than expecting it to travel along a row. In the tunnel I pollinated by hand, shaking the male flowers to spread the pollen - if you have to plant in a row, maybe you could go along it shaking things around a bit periodically in the direction of the relevant ladies?? No idea if it would work, but can't hurt to try!

[GrimChili]

Thanks for your input KathyD, I've just been out there shoving a duvet cover onto the roof of my 6x4 lean to as its gonna be hot today, had a quick look at the potential sweetcorn plot, still not sure how ill plant them out yet...

I think if there in a 5 x 3 row, i should be able to get a bit of pallet board down the shorter row (3 deep) and give them a gentle shake with that, hoping that would do it! I actually failed to mention on my earlier posts that where they will be is fairly windy so I'm hoping that that should take care of the pollination for me!

We'll see... Its abit of a shame as there is a fair bit of work to be done in my garden landscaping wise which I'd hoped to have finished by now but as I'm waiting for a new fence (rented accomadation - I'm at the mercy of the estate agents and landlords...), so if said fence had already been done I'd have a nice spot for loads of veg, unfortuately it wasn't to be...

Next Year eh... haha

Thanks Again!

GrimChili

[horticultural_hobbit]

I have those. 3x3 in a 1mx1m raised bed with 4 trailing squashes in their too.

Have sweetcorn at varying heights though, as they developed differently.

[GrimChili]

Thanks for your suggestion Horticultural Hobbit,

I actually (and fortunately) did that anyways - the height varying I mean, planted them out yesterday i did a 5x3 and have covered them with 2 litre bottles with the bottoms cut off and no lids so they can get a little bit established before they have to face the wind...

Tell me, have you already planted out said sweetcorn and squash you mentioned because I am thinking of doing the same... Some of my sweetcorn was probably only... well a few inches tall to be honest, others about 6iches... so i think they need to get bigger perhaps before I plant out a squash or pumpkin? I have a butternut, a baby bear pumpkin, a couple mammoth pumpkins and a jack o lantern pumpkin... oh and also a honey bear squash or two... do you think ay of these would suit crawling through the sweetcorn and at what point would you suggest planting in relation to each other?

I was thinking one of the bigger varieties - jack 'o' lantern or mammoth... Dunno tho...

Many thanks for the responses people!

GrimChili

[horticultural_hobbit]

Planted out a couple of weeks ago. There are patty pan and yellow scallop in there; apparently these two are the same anyway.

I had a really poor germination rate. 15 sweetcorn were sown; three being back up. Only just got 9.

[GrimChili]

I had no idea either of those squash type were trailing?

I planted a Patty Pan yesterday in a 1x1x1 container... hope its alright!

I too had a relatively poor germination rate, I sowed twice, about 2 weeks apart, and I only had one plant left over from... about 28ish... I ended up with 16.

Thanks for posting the photo, mine look a little behind some of your sweetcorn, really looking forward to seeing how these get on. My first year growing alot of stuff as I have abit of a bigger garden now - sweetcorn, pumpkins etc.

Do you think a pumpkin or winter squash would work in this situation as opposed to a summer squash such as what you have planted?

Thanks Again!
GrimChili

[Stan79]

I had a whole tray fail to germinate. Luckily I had gone way over the top as I wasn't sure how good the seed supplier was and planted double so ended up with enough. I am trying squash in with the corn this year too. Patty pan, butternut and spaghetti!

[horticultural_hobbit]

I think any squash would work. If you g^ogle 3 sisters that might help; this is 2 out of 3.

[kathyd]

I have those. 3x3 in a 1mx1m raised bed with 4 trailing squashes in their too.

Have sweetcorn at varying heights though, as they developed differently.

HH - are you saying you're growing 9 sweetcorn and 4 trailing squashes within one square metre, or have I misread it?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Yep, that's right. I know about them getting big, and needing lots of space. Not a problem, they can roam, trail. Photo up above somewhere. I don't mind if they make a run for it and escape out of the bed.