[debih]

We are wanting to have a go at growing sweetcorn this year but am not sure whether to buy plug plants or have a go from seed.

We dont have a greenhouse (yet - next years project) but do have a sunny windowsill.  I thought I might get some seeds and start them off in toilet rolls on the windowsill and then plant them straight out into the allotment when they looked big enough.   But have I left it too late to start them from seed?

If it is best to go for plug plants - any particular type to go for (we want to grow the large cobs, not the small corn)

[mumofstig]

seeds are really easy and once up sweetcorn grows quickly like grass, approximately 3-4 weeks from sowing to planting out...so judge your last frost date and sow 3 weeks before that

I recommend sowing in paper pots, so easy

[ziggy66]

Not too late see this thread - really worked for me.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=34827.msg447195;topicseen#msg447195

This year going with the paper pots too and they are working a treat.

Good luck, sweetcorn is my favourite this year I am trying Swift. Swift or Lark seem to be popular around here

[compostqueen]

I sowed some today, in largish module tray, two per cell. I did some in loo rolls last week, one seed per roll.  Water them and stand back and watch 

[sunshineband]

Seeds are dead easy (lots of advice above  ) and much much cheaper too.

Plus you get a choice of varieties too 

[Kristen]

I would advise against plug plants. Sweetcorn supposedly (views differ though!!) dislike being moved and have very brittle, so may be damaged when planting / potting on.

I prefer your loo-rolls approach

[Sadgit]

I chitted mine a couple of weekend ago and took 2 days to sprout. then I made 40 paper pots (rich is my hero) and dumped them in the pots.

Just be-careful chitting them, as last year I left mine for a week and they were totally rotten.

[GreenOwl]

Plug plants are expensive (and you need at least 9 plants to ensure pollination).  You haven't left it too late to go from seed.  I set mine to chit yesterday.  I do recommend chitting rather than just sowing.  I get much better germination from chitting since I discovered it via this site!

[Aidy]

I chit mine as Sadgit mentioned, put some damp kitchen paper into the base of a container, pop the seeds on and then cover with another damp kitchen paper and pop a lid on, keep them somewhere warmish but not too hot but consistant and check after three days onwards, a little shoot will appear them pot on, I have always used root trainers with no probs transplanting but the paper pots are ideal.

[jazzbyrd]

I use loo rolls for my sweetcorn!!