[starmoonlilly]

This is my first year growing sweetcorn, I would love to save one cob for seed next year.

How do I go about it? Do you let the cob dry naturally as it is, or do you have to strip the niblets off and dry individually?

Thanks in advance

[WG.]

Did you grow only one variety of corn?   Otherwise you may get cross pollination.

I've never done it but I reckon you mimic nature and let it dry in situ.

Don't bother at all if it is an F1 hybrid variety.

[starmoonlilly]

It is a single variety, but its also an F1.......I shant bother this year. Are the F1's sterile?

[WG.]

See F1 hybrid in the Glossary of Terms.  All please feel free to vote in the poll & to contribute further terms (with or without definitions)

[muntjac]

dont bother trying 9/10 they get rot or musty . just buy proven seed

[David.]

How do I go about it? Do you let the cob dry naturally as it is, or do you have to strip the niblets off and dry individually?

It's worked for me every year, and the saved seeds have germinated better than shop bought.

I have saved 'Supersweet' (a non F1 variety), by leaving some healthy cobs on the plants until the seeds start to dry/shrivel then cut them off, strip the outer leaves, let them dry a little more, then rub the seeds out to dry individually. If you are growing polenta maize (seeds of Italy), or similar, you will get blisters trying to rub the hard, solid packed seeds out by hand.

Your crop should not be planted so late that it is only suitable for cobs for eating, or they may not dry enough on the plant in time and the mice might strip them before you notice.

But I haven't noticed Supersweet around recently, and I normally start saving from shop bought seeds again after 5 years or so as they seem to run out of vigour.

[starmoonlilly]

I'll try a non hybrid next year, and try your method David. Thanks for the info

[David.]

I forgot to mention, don't be tempted to relegate your worst cobs to seed saving, but save the best you get to produce the most vigorous plants the next year.