[NorfolkVeg]

2 questions..

Can I sow sweetcorn in Richies Paper Pots to try and avoid root disturbance (never used them before but look good solution?

Also, If Iam having both Large Sweetcorn and baby corn's on the allotment - do I have to keep hema certain distance apart to stop any cross-polination between the blocks.

Thanks all

Rick

[Nikkithefoot]

Yes you can sow them in paper pots, I certainly do. Just remember when you plant them out to bury the paper so moisture doesn't wick away from the roots.

WRT baby and mature sweetcorn I wouldn't have thought it would matter as the baby sweetcorn would be picked at a much earlier stage, but I'm sure someone else will be able to advise if this isn't the case.

[NorfolkVeg]

Brilliant -  I am off paper pot making and sowing Sweetcorn seeds - Cheers Nikki

[nilsatis1964]

Baby sweetcorn is from non-polinated fruit the full cobs are polinated.  To keep things unpoinated I think you need to cover the flowers to stop polination.  I could be completely wrong.

[mumofstig]

you just pick the baby corns early, just as the silks emerge from the top of the cobs, so they don't get a chance to be pollinated

[Goosegirl]

I sowed my sweetcorn with two to a deep plastic pot and they all came up so I took a chance and took them out of their pots, split them and replanted in separate pots. They are looking good and have come on a lot in three days. I know they don't like root disturbance so I will let you all know if it works.

[Kristen]

When I grew mini-corn I just broke off the male flowers when they appeared to prevent them pollinating the "proper corn" nearby - they certainly produce pollen, even thought the mini-corn is harvested before it is pollinated.

I aint growing it again though ... pretty much impossible to tell when the mini-cobs are ready, and being a day or two late as too late ... plus even though the kids love mini-corn they love normal-corn just as much! but I wish you well with your crop.

[realfood]

Kirsten is quite right in that it is important to remove the baby corn male pollen parts from the top of the baby corn. That way there is no danger of spoiling your main sweetcorn.