[beadwindow]

I have just potted up some F1 swift sweetcorn seeds in preperation of planting them out in a few weeks. My question is, to acheive success with sweetcorn what soil preparation can I do to get the best return?

I believe organic chicken manure is the way forward, but would welcome any advice.


Beadwindow.

[gobs]

That will do, but well rotted manure would be better. Don't get carried away though.

[survyman]

Hope you have better luck than me. I can hardly get any to germinate.
Had a good crop last year and all I did was mix in manure and watch them grow.

[JimG]

I've never grown sweetcorn before either.  My sweetcorn seeds have all germinated.  I used a heated propagator and took them out - but still indoors - when the shoots were  about four inches high.  The trouble is that they're now a little leggy and don't seem particularly 'robust'.

Will they beef up in time or will they shrivel the first time I put them outdoors?  Any and all advice welcome!

Cheers,


Jim

[DD.]

I've never grown sweetcorn before either.  My sweetcorn seeds have all germinated.  I used a heated propagator and took them out - but still indoors - when the shoots were  about four inches high.  The trouble is that they're now a little leggy and don't seem particularly 'robust'.

Will they beef up in time or will they shrivel the first time I put them outdoors?  Any and all advice welcome!

Cheers,


Jim

People on here will know that I'm not a big fan of heated propagators Jim! A plastic bag serves me as well.

You should have taken them out AS SOON as they germinated, not let them get to 4" tall as enclosed in the propagator, they will, as you have found out, grow weqk & leggy.

Two things to do - put them outside during the day time, should be OK with this weather, but keep an eye on the forecast for cold spells, bring them inside at night. They will hopefully start to 'firm up'.

Secondly - bang some more seed in just in case!!!

[JimG]

Thanks and d'oh!

[beadwindow]

JimG,

Many thanks for joining in, I would have probably followed your lead on growing leggy sweetcorn thinking they were doing well !!!

DD,

I must concur with your views on heated propagators, a good friend of mine has commited a few cardinal sins with one. Sh&$kwatch
With regards to putting them out during the day, as I`m only growing a few to start with this year would they be alright under a plastic cloche at night? rather than bringing them in. (limited space)

[DD.]

Looking at the forecast you may well get away with them uncovered, but a 'belt & braces' job with the cloche won't hurt.

[beadwindow]

Thanks for the tips,

In summary,

1. Muck in well
2. look after the little tinkers
3. keep them well fed and watered.

I will keep you all informed and good luck JimG...

[Sharkwatch]

Beadwindow,

Why the sudden interest in growing compact healthy plants when you have spent the early spring specialising in weak, leggy seedlings - indeed your tomato plants reached four feet before the first truss and have spent more time falling over than you do after a half shandy and a sniff of the barmaids apron.

Maybe it is the close proximity of a 'proper' gardener that has urged you to improve your cultivating skills.

Sharkwatch.

[Foxy]

I grew some last year for the first time in a raised bed with lots of organic stuff. They were fantastic! within minutes of picking they were simmering in a pot. The taste is something else.
I just germinated in pots on a warm window still then as soon as they started to grow stuck them straight in the ground.

[siztenboots]

Guess I got lucky as a first timer, I just made two rows in the dug over soil next to my beetroots, put in my Wilko f1 Miracle, they all came up, sown end of may.

beating the mice to the cobs is another problem altogether

[beadwindow]

Mice

I was worried enough about the local rabbits getting to the young siblings, did not even cross my mind about those little fellows!

On a serious note though, keeping the local wild life at bay is a must, but I am very keep to deter them I.E mot harming them.

Any tips in general?

My neighbouring allotmenteer "sharkwatch" believes that espionage will guarantee him victory come September at the local show, but this old dog has a trick or two up his sleeve :twisted:

[Wombat]

beating the mice to the cobs is another problem altogether

Note to self:  build one of our cats a kennel by the sweetcorn.

[DD.]

Squirrels get to mine, I've seen the b*ggers at it!