Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Nick Bongiorno on May 02, 2021, 11:14

Title: New to growing
Post by: Nick Bongiorno on May 02, 2021, 11:14
Hi all,

I’m new to growing veg, I have just planted sweetcorn into a large planter. Do I water them a lot or just dampen the soil?
Thanks
Nick
Title: Re: New to growing
Post by: wolveryeti on May 02, 2021, 12:37
Be led by what the plant is telling you and the moisture of the soil.

What works for me is to insert my finger into the soil to the depth of the first knuckle. If it doesn't feel moist, I water- otherwise I don't.

You don't want to over water- you risk rotting the roots of your plants and ending up with a rubbish crop

Title: Re: New to growing
Post by: Goosegirl on May 04, 2021, 10:21
Another good way to tell if pots or seed trays need watering is to lift them (if possible) and see how light or heavy they feel.
Title: Re: New to growing
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 05, 2021, 12:39
This is more of a recommendation for when the plants are much larger, getting ready to produce corn.  Corn has pollen-producing flowers at the top of the corn plant (tassels; male flower structure) and the silk that is at the end of each ear of corn (female flower structure).  Corn in a field is wind-pollinated; in a container, you will need to help out.  When the tassels become dusty, they are releasing pollen.  Have a plastic bag (gallon zip-seal type is good) and knock the pollen into the bag each day, store some place cool until you need the pollen.  When ears are producing silk, brush a little of the collected pollen onto the silk each day until the silks go brown and the ears are clearly getting larger.

This will increase your chance of getting some corn off your plants.  TBH, this is the first time I have heard of growing corn in a container, so I am excited to see how this works out for you!  Maybe it is more common in UK gardens?  Good luck!