[sheridal]

Hi there,

I was wondering when the earliest that I could start sowing sweetcorn was. I am planning on doing the three sisters method and want to get it started sooner rather than later (I know now is too soon) When I did it last year, it worked really well, but I would love to have started earlier so that we can eat the beans earlier as we ended up freezing a load.

I know that I can germinate the corn in kitchen paper. I was then thinking of then planting them in toilet rolls and putting them in our polytunnel, before planting them outside. but I am unsure on timings.

Is there anyone that can help.

Louisa

[crowndale]

I sowed mine last week in root trainers and in the greenhouse.  they took ages to come up last year so figured it was ok, plus the packet said april in the greenhouse.

[lucywil]

i planted mine in modules at the weekend, and they are in a unheated greenhouse.

[sheridal]

and here was me thinking I was being too eager!!!   

[DD.]

I intend starting mine chitting today, with the intention of them going outside no sooner than the start of June.

[strangerachael]

Me too, sowed one batch yesterday, hopefully ready to plant out end of May. Will do another batch in a week or two. Never know, it might stagger teh harvest a bit..

[DD.]

131 in sandwich boxes & kitchen towel in the airing cupboard.

Hope this recommended method works!

[Kristen]

I sowed mine on 1st April, and popped them into newspaper pots a couple of days later.

[Kagganz]

Did mine about 1st April,  I'm trying mini-pop sweetcorn, they are about 4 inch tall now in an un-heated greenhouse now so we'll see if they 'pop up' or 'pop off'!

I sowed 4 to two 5 inch pots, I know I might have problems re-potting but hey nothing ventured.   

[GreenOwl]

Me too, sowed one batch yesterday, hopefully ready to plant out end of May. Will do another batch in a week or two. Never know, it might stagger teh harvest a bit..

Not sure about staggering the harvest, you need them to polinate each other so they need to be at that stage together.

[strangerachael]

Well, they're two different varieties so have to be kept separate anyway.

[DD.]

Me too, sowed one batch yesterday, hopefully ready to plant out end of May. Will do another batch in a week or two. Never know, it might stagger teh harvest a bit..

Not sure about staggering the harvest, you need them to polinate each other so they need to be at that stage together.

There's nothing wrong in doing seperate blocks, (I'm sure you know not to plant in straight rows). Each block will pollinate itself, so you can keep them seperate. Rachael is doing the right thing in keeping them apart.

[shifty]

Ive got mine in 3 inch peat pots and they are about 3 to 4 inches high. they are in little poly green house and appear ok. This is my second year at this game and love it, however I hav'nt done sweetcorn before. My mate says that they need to be about a foot  before they go out into the bed and not until May.

[Parsnip]

131 in sandwich boxes & kitchen towel in the airing cupboard.

Hope this recommended method works!

I was going to ask you if you'd tried this method.. I've put some in compost as per pkt instructions and see how it goes.

[Kristen]

"My mate says that they need to be about a foot  before they go out into the bed and not until May"

I think they need to wait until after the last frost?  I reckon 1st June to be safe ... maybe you are milder on the gulf stream coast?