[prakash_mib]

had a terrible first batch of sweetcorn. can I sow second and also dwarf french now?

[JayG]

Yes to both!

My "Swift" sweetcorn have been anything but this year, with germination down at about 80% in paper pots indoors, and even those that germinated don't look very happy. 

Had planned to grow a second batch to plant next to the first in any case, but will be forced to do so anyway this time round.

(Am even considering chitting the seeds first which as I've said many times on here I have NEVER felt the need to do before with any type of seed!) 

[bigben]

Me to Jay - as I said on the other sweetcorn thread - I planted mine at the weekend. started in loo roll tubes then used a bulb planter to drop them into holes. Before I did this I threw some chicken poo pellets into the hole. Big mistake! I checked yesterday and Mr Fox has been digging for those "underground chickens" and some of my sweetcorn has gone.

I will be sowing some more tonight

[aelf]

my dfb didn't germinate on the first 2 attempts. Seems my greenhouse was too warm and/or wet for them. I planted some in pots in my cold frame and they are doing great - planted them out this morning 

[Azazello]

Re beans, I've got one lot more or less ready to go out and a few more in to follow. I'll do another small batch in a week or two.

[Kristen]

My "Swift" sweetcorn have been anything but this year, with germination down at about 80% in paper pots indoors, and even those that germinated don't look very happy. 

I had that last year (with "Swift"), for the first time.  Several came up with albino-looking leaves, and died after a bit.

This year I bought seed in bulk (from Moles) and have planted more than required, but even so I am only getting 15-out-of-20 seeds, per batch, to chit! and 2 or 3 of those don't then grow ...

Someone told me that they always grow the latest Carlos-Fangdango varieties because they reckoned that, whilst still novel far more trouble was taken over the rearing of the parent plants etc., and once "commonplace" the quality fell off as a result.  I do wonder if there is some truth to that ...

[JayG]

This year I bought seed in bulk (from Moles) and have planted more than required, but even so I am only getting 15-out-of-20 seeds, per batch, to chit! and 2 or 3 of those don't then grow ...

Someone told me that they always grow the latest Carlos-Fangdango varieties because they reckoned that, whilst still novel far more trouble was taken over the rearing of the parent plants etc., and once "commonplace" the quality fell off as a result.  I do wonder if there is some truth to that ...

I re-sowed each of the four paper pots which failed to germinate with 2 of last year's Swift seeds. I've done that in previous years and usually got 1 of the 2 to germinate; this year nothing! 

The only thing I've done differently this year is using a different brand of compost, although it seems to have been OK for other types of seeds.

You could be right about the fall off in quality Kristen, although there don't seem to be that many people having problems, at least as far as this thread is concerned........................

[mumofstig]

I got 23 out of 24 Lark to germinate ..........perhaps it's a bad year for Swift.
It was a bad year last year for Incredible (bad germination and deformed cobs)...which is the reason for my switch to Lark.

[Kristen]

Was it the year before last everyone was complaining about Parsnip germination?  Perhaps all the seed sold by Suppliers comes from just a very few specialist growers?

[mumofstig]

I think they do, kristen

[cooperman]

I grow Unwins "Supersweet" sweetcorn - got excellent results last year and the batch sown this year (in 4" pots in the greenhouse) has virtually all germinated and now 15/18" high and looking nice and strong. Will plant out in a week or two in the prepared bed.....

[alwayshopeful]

Have had trouble germinating my swift sweetcorn, so thought would give chitting a  go - oh my gosh, will def do that in future.  After two days every single seed had sprouted roots and within 4 days leaves had started to grow.  Have put them in pots last week and results look promising - def worth it.  Am now trying same with peas and beans as seem to be having trouble growing them in pots without them all rotting!

[AnneB]

I got 100% germination with "Golden Bantam Improved".  They are racing away and I could do with putting them out, but it seems a bit too cold.  Will try and hang on another week.

Only chose the variety because of the name (being a supporter of Bradford City, who are nicknamed the Bantams).  I kind of hope my football team might take the hint and become "Improved".  They are anything but golden at the moment.

Will be interested to see what the final productivity is like up here in the north.

[strawberry lady]

 i have also been sucessful with unwins "super sweet" variety. Just put them out into the plot yesterday.

[JayG]

I re-sowed each of the four paper pots which failed to germinate with 2 of last year's Swift seeds. I've done that in previous years and usually got 1 of the 2 to germinate; this year nothing! 

The only thing I've done differently this year is using a different brand of compost, although it seems to have been OK for other types of seeds.

An update which may be of interest to anyone else having problems with germinating "Swift" sweetcorn this year:

Chitted last years Sutton seeds: 4 out of 10 sprouted (40%), now growing on OK.

Chitted the remaining "fresh" Mr. Fothergill's seeds: 10 out of 18 sprouted (55%), which is worse than the rest of the packet previously sown directly (80%) 

I will finish up with fewer plants than I wanted but I don't want to mix varieties and certainly won't be buying any more Swift this year! 

I will be getting in touch with the supplier to invite their comments!