[chris23005]

I will be chitting mine next week,  then in root trainers to then go out under a 2l pop bottle for a week or 2.  With a weekly feed (tues) of comfrey tea.  Normally get 3 full cobs per plant to )

Chitting?!!!!!  I have just moved my packet of sweetcorn seeds to one side because the packet says not to plant until May! It didn;t say anything about chitting first. Is that absolutely necessary? If so, I had better get a move on!!!

[unconcerned]

it's your call. I like to chit so I can ensure I am only planting the good ones. In fact will be doing it today

[chris23005]

it's your call. I like to chit so I can ensure I am only planting the good ones. In fact will be doing it today

So what do you do then? Do you lay them out on damp kitchen roll or something?

[unconcerned]

I pop them in a little box between layers of damp kleenex and leave them in the airing cupboard for a couple of days

[kermit]

I tried this 2 weeks ago and they just rotted!  Whereas my chitted peas and sweet peas worked great.  Any ideas why that should happen?  Too wet?  too hot?

[Digger Tom]

 Last time I grew sweetcorn i just sowed into a seed tray, then planted out when they where big enough. They all grew that time so thats what i am doing again.

[mumofstig]

Chitting just lets me see which seeds are viable, so I don't waste compost on seed that will never germinate..........but you don't have to do it

I put mine in a plastic box between 2 pieces of damp (not soaking though!) kitchen roll and put it somewhere warm..................36 hrs later and they had 1/2 inch roots, all carefully potted up now. 24 out of 30 germinated..........just enough for me

[unconcerned]

Chitting just lets me see which seeds are viable, so I don't waste compost on seed that will never germinate..........but you don't have to do it

I put mine in a plastic box between 2 pieces of damp (not soaking though!) kitchen roll and put it somewhere warm..................36 hrs later and they had 1/2 inch roots, all carefully potted up now. 24 out of 30 germinated..........just enough for me

Exactly what I was saying...although last year I forgot about one box and it went all mouldy

[mumofstig]

although last year I forgot about one box and it went all mouldy

It happens to the best of us

[HilaryG]

I planted 30 sweetcorn in paper pots (no chitting) and so far 29 of them have come up. I'm not sure when to plant them on the plot though. Just putting them out to harden off each day and then back into unheated greenhouse for a while.  Actually they are going to go into my 3 sisters bed with the climbing beans and courgettes which was so good last year.

[peapod]

I only planted 9...think Id better get on with more 

[andy135]

Many thanks for this thread. It makes interesting reading as I have just ordered my sweetcorn, "Double Standard" and have never grown corn before. Time will tell. 

[mumofstig]

I only planted 9...think Id better get on with more 

9?...............Lightweight 

[peapod]

Strange when I sowed 48 swede 

[prakash_mib]

please take care while opening the tissues after chitting. I did opened carefully but still snapped two roots. Your heart breaks when you hear the snap sound of the root. The reason is the roots easily poke through the tissue and gets strangled and when you open it snaps off!!