[Elaine G]

Ok, so I know to plant sweetcorn in blocks, and to not mix varieties.

If I sow half my sweetcorn now, to plant out at the end of May, and half in a month or so, to plant out at the end of June/ beginning of July will that give me two separate crops or is there a flaw in this plan that I haven’t thought of?
If this is a sensible plan, do they need to be planted as far away as possible or will it not matter..

Thanks for any opinions
Elaine

[mumofstig]

It's a sensible plan, but still best to separate them as much as you can, because although planted at different times, weather can also affect flowering/pollination time and you want as little chance of cross pollianation as poss.

[New shoot]

It might be worth investing in a second pack of seeds for that plan to work.  I've tried sowing late with varieties intended to be early and they sometimes run out of time if autumn closes in a bit fast.

Conquer has done well for me in the past as a late crop and I have Honeydew to try this year.

If you plant in blocks at a decent distance and with a view to avoiding the prevailing wind direction, you can minimise the cross=pollination problems.  On our site the wind runs down the hill from a westerly direction for most of the summer, so I stagger blocks so they are not downwind of each other 

[JayG]

If all the same variety, it's a good idea if you are looking to prolong the cropping season and potentially improve overall pollination - plant the second block upwind of the first if possible to help pollinate any 'late' silks on the first batch (sweetcorn always seem to go down to the wire when it comes to tassel/silk production timing.)

If different varieties, you need to research whether cross-pollination could have an adverse effect on the cobs - some are compatible, some aren't.

[Elaine G]

Thank you for your comments.
I was planning to split the packet and sow the same type.
We are away for a lot of June, which is an allotmenting disaster in itself  but it wouldn't be polite to refuse a free holiday. So assuming the second lot survive being watered by my grandsons I will plant them out when I get home.
The wind is across my plot so planting upwind might be tricky.
I think the answer is to go for it, and I'll let you know later in the year if its a disaster.

Elaine

[Rhys]

I've got some plants coming on in my kitchen on the windowsill. They're about 5 inches high now. I'm guessing it will be too soon to plant them out? Or would it be possible if I put them under cloches as we've just had another cold snap..


I get the feeling I've planted them too soon.. Any advice? Ta

[crh75]

I do this and it works well. (In reference to original question)

[New shoot]

I've got some plants coming on in my kitchen on the windowsill. They're about 5 inches high now. I'm guessing it will be too soon to plant them out? Or would it be possible if I put them under cloches as we've just had another cold snap..


I get the feeling I've planted them too soon.. Any advice? Ta

It might be too soon.  Mine are still in the packet tbh, but you have decent sized plants now, so not much lost to try your luck.  Leaving them inside will make them spindly.

Have you got a greenhouse?  If not a cloche and a sheltered spot might be your best bet.

[JayG]

I've got some plants coming on in my kitchen on the windowsill. They're about 5 inches high now. I'm guessing it will be too soon to plant them out? Or would it be possible if I put them under cloches as we've just had another cold snap..
I get the feeling I've planted them too soon.. Any advice? Ta

Any frost will kill them outright, but sweetcorn are accomplished sulkers - prolonged temperatures of below around 10C will stop them growing and turn them pale and sickly, and they don't always recover fully from that even when it warms up.

Where you are I'd not be contemplating planting them outdoors until late May at the earliest.

Cloches may be worth a try, but can only do so much...

[crh75]

Assuming you don't have a heated greenhouse, I would but them out in the day and bring them in for the night.

[Rhys]

My allotment neighbour has only just planted his seeds in the greenhouse. I've got plenty of seeds left so I can soon plant some more.
I've got a greenhouse, but have made a raised bed in it and have carrots and beetroot (2 types of each) growing in it so can pick early. Beetroot IIRC is cylicndra and solo. I guess I can always put the trays of sweetcorn on the floor of the greenhouse. I am going to make a large cold frame from old scaffold battens and I have plenty of toughened glass (ex BREL) and some perspex. That's another project though..