Plant 45cm apart in blocks.
Sunlight, warmth and water are essential for growing sweetcorn.
The ideal site will be warm, light and protected from the wind. Winds will cool the area down and may blow the sweetcorn over when it is tall.
Soil for sweetcorn should be light and well drained. Unless the vegetable garden is very light, it is best to dig a trench about two feet deep. There must be no compaction at the bottom of the trench. Fill the trench almost to the top with compost. Dig in a little Farm Yard Manure. Cover with a layer of sand, and mix this in to lighten the soil. The sweetcorn roots will be able to grow freely in this light, free draining trench.
Containers or troughs can produce large cobs if the containers are deep enough. The tubs should be at least 45cm deep, to allow the sweetcorn roots to develop. The troughs must have holes at the bottom, to allow water to drain away. A 10cm layer of Farm Yard Manure, at the bottom of the trough, gives the roots something to go down into. Cover the manure with compost. Vermiculite and sand can be mixed with the compost, so that the trough is filled with a light, free draining growing medium. The advantage of growing sweetcorn in containers is that the pot can often be tucked into a sheltered suntrap.
Plant sweetcorn in blocks, not rows, as they are pollinated by wind (not insects). There is a much better chance of pollination occurring if the plants are in blocks. Also the plants will support each other better and are less likely to be blown over and damaged by wind.
Plant out into the garden when the weather is set to be very warm and all chances of frost have gone.
The day before planting, water the tray of plants well, so that the compost is soaked. This will keep the root ball together so that the compost does not fall off when the plant comes out of the pot.
Prepare the ground for planting by drawing a grid with a stick. Each square needs to be 45cm by 45cm. Then in the middle of the first square, with a trowel, dig a planting hole the size of the pot which will be equivalent to the size of the root ball.
Gently take one plant out of the tray by putting your finger and thumb around the stem of a sweet corn plant and tipping it upside down. Place the plant in the hole being careful not to damage the roots. Lightly press the soil in around the root ball so that the sweet corn is firmly planted.
Continue planting up the grid, spacing the plants 45cm apart in all directions.
Water the newly planted sweetcorn so that the soil is wet.
Watering sweet corn is vital to produce full, healthy ears. Once the tassels appear, the plants need at least 2.5cm of water per week.
It is important that the soil does not dry out between watering, so in a dry period the corn will need more frequent watering. The corn will not be able to fill out if it does not receive sufficient water and, as a result, the seeds will be small and shrivelled.
Shrivelled sweetcorn
Keep weeds down by hoeing regularly when weeds are small.
Harvest when the liquid of the grains in the cob is thin and creamy. Once the tassels have turned brown, test for ripeness by peeling back the outer husks and pushing your fingernail into the cob. The cob is ready to pick if a milky solution comes out, but if the liquid is clear, leave it a little longer.
Cob with brown tassels
Note: Mini sweetcorn are planted out 12cm apart in rows 20cm apart, in blocks. Harvest the tiny cobs when the silks first show above the husks.
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm
Any questions? Email us or give us a call on 01904 400092.
