[willnbirdie]

Hi

Has anyone got any ideas?

We grew about 8 sweetcorn plants this year - enough for just the 4 of us however I was really disappointed with the outcome.

The first 2 cobs that we picked were absolutely fabulous - lots of lovely juicy kernals and we were looking forward to the others which had all grown to a good size.  I had a look at the other cobs and decided that they needed more time.

A couple of weeks later picked some more and there were some lovely juicy kernals with a good yellow colour and several undeveloped ones.

I left the others on the plants until last week - picked  those and virtually no developed kernals at all.

Does anyone know what might of caused this so we can try to avoid the same next year.

Thank you

willnbirdie

[birmancats]

Sweet corn are wind pollinated.  Could just be that you didn't have enough plants for the pollen to get to all of them. 

[DD.]

I agree with the above. 8 is not many for a decent size block.

Did you grow them in a block, by the way?

[willnbirdie]

Hi

Thanks for replies - did sort of grow in a block but as you say 8 doesn't make a very good one, plus unlike last year the plants were well sheltered by our 8 foot tall runner bean wigwams so that may have something to do with it.  I didn't realise that they were wind pollinated. 

Thanks for advice - next year - more plants, definate block style planting and no where near the runner beans.

Cheers guys

willnbirdie

[DD.]

More plants, in a block and give them a shake when the pollen is apparant on the tassles.

[Fisherman]

Worth also sowing in two batches a couple of weeks apart so that the plants polinate over a longer period. Ideally sweetcorn needs a long growing period and good weather which bar a couple weeks we haven't had this year.