sweetcorn

[plam]

Hi,

Does it matter if I am growing two different types of sweetcorn together? I only had a few seeds left of one variety so I've a dozen of one kind and a dozen of another (both F1). I understand that the reason you have to grow it in a block is that it is wind pollinated, so does it matter if there are different types in the block?

Thanks!

[Nannysally99]

I think you may well cross pollinate and I think it spoils the crop in some way.
Someone knowledgeable will be along in a minute

[Scoot]

I think you may well cross pollinate and I think it spoils the crop in some way.
Someone knowledgeable will be along in a minute

I'm pretty sure this is the case. I was reading something similar earlier.

[Muddy_Boots]

Found this:

Planning Your Corn Crop (National Gardening Association)

Which explains all about cross pollination and how it possibly affects the sweetness of sweetcorn ...... or not.

[Zelenina]

Hi plam

There are three main types of sweetcorn with different kinds of sweetness genes. Normal sugary (SU), Sugar enhanced (SE), and Supersweet (SH2)

There are also some mixed types to complicate things. But basically the SH2 ones need to be isolated from the other kinds because they will spoil each other if their pollen crosses. Two of any of the same type will be fine together, and an SE with an SU will also be OK.

If you know the names of your two varieties we can probably find out which types they are.

If you don't know the names, then you might be able to tell because the supersweets have seeds that are much more shrivelled and shrunken than the others. It also makes them harder to germinate.

You also have to keep all the sweetcorns separate from any popcorn, field corn or flour corn, but they seem not to be grown so commonly in the UK.

This article explains it all in more detail https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/fa...genotypes.html

[Chris11]

Usually, you only have to be concerned about cross pollination if you're saving seed for growing next year. With chillies for example, cross pollination doesn't affect the pods, just the genetics of the seeds inside.

Sweetcorn is different, and I haven't really understood it completely, but it's something to do with cross pollination (but only in some combinations, depending on the varieties) causing the corn kernels to become more starchy rather than producing the plant sugars that give the sweeter taste.

I think the 'standard sweet' and 'sugar enhanced' varieties are ok, and can be grown together, but the potential problems are with the newer 'supersweet' varieties, which need to be grown separately.

The 'supersweet' are also thought to be harder to germinate and grow, especially in the cooler conditions found in most of the UK, although there are varieties that are supposed to cope better with our climate. There's one variety called 'Northern Extra Sweet F1' which somehow would be more amusing if they'd called it 'Extra Sweet for Northerners F1'

The seed companies aren't always as helpful as they could be in making things clear, and which varieties need to be grown separately, and which can be safely grown together.

Descriptions like 'Tendersweet' and 'Extra Sweet' also muddy the waters.

Edit: I hadn't seen Zelenina's post when I made mine, but it looks like we're basically saying the same thing

[plam]

Thank you very much for your replies.

I have Ovation (which RHS says is supersweet) and Incredible, which I think is a 'sugar enhanced'. So I think they will be impaired if I grow them together?

I have another 40 or so seeds for the Ovation so I think I might just ditch the Incredible seedlings and sow more Ovation.

I had a very high germination rate for the sugar enhanced Incredible (11/12) and have only just sown the supersweet Ovation, so will be interesting to see if there is a big difference in germination.