With so many ways to enjoy this ever popular vegetable, there's nothing better than being able to serve up your own home grown produce, be it "corn on the cob" with lashings of butter or as part of a delicious salad.
Sweetcorn is easier to produce than most people would imagine, only requiring a bit of room to grow and anchor those tall stems that are a familiar sight in farmers' fields these days. Read our useful guide on how & when to grow sweetcorn below.
Varieties of sweetcorn
- Sweetcorn 'Lark' F1 Hybrid - This tendersweet variety is an RHS award winner and reliably produces large cobs.
- Sweetcorn 'Conquerer' F1 Hybrid - This supersweet variety is well adapted to our changeable summer weather. Produces long cobs with very few sideshoots.
- Sweetcorn 'Golden Gate' - Perfect for growing in cooler or wet soils, this sweet mid-season variety can be enjoyed barbecued, boiled or steamed.
- Sweetcorn 'Swift' F1 Hybrid- is a good all round variety, reliable germination rates and two to three sweet and tender cobs per plant, each on average a good 18cm long (7inches).
How to sow sweetcorn seed
Sow indoors from April onwards, ideally in individual coir pots or recycled toilet roll inners. This is to minimise the disturbance to the roots which sweetcorn will dislike.
If you wish to, you can sow the sweetcorn directly outside, but wait until May, once the weather has become milder and all risk of frost has passed. Plant two seeds together approximately one and a half inches deep, in blocks allowing 15 - 18 inches between each pair. Once the seedlings have germinated, remove the weakest plant and dispose of it.
Growing on sweetcorn
If you have grown your plants in individual pots then plant them out once they are at least 6 inches (15cm) high and all risk of frost has gone , again in blocks with 15 - 18 inches between each plant. Sweetcorn needs to be sown or planted out in blocks as it is pollinated by the wind, meaning that a single row is unlikely to have successful pollination and your crop will be greatly reduced. The bigger the block the better the pollination will generally be.
Sweetcorn also prefers reliably moist and well fertilised soil, digging in compost, or raking in a good quality fertilizer such as our Incredicrop ® and keeping the plants well watered throughout the growing season will help to ensure a good crop of tasty kernels. Applying a mulch of organic material will help keep weeds down and retain moisture during drier periods.
Sweetcorn can also be grown in large containers, provided they are in a good quality compost and are also fed regularly. This means that a few plants can be planted into one of our patio bags and grown at home in the back garden.
When to harvest sweetcorn
When the silky tassels on each cob have turned brown the corn is usually ready, however, it is best to check by peeling away the sheaf and pinching a kernel, id the juice inside is milky then the cob is ready to harvest, if it is clear, it is better to wait a little longer, if there is no liquid then you may have left it too late.
If at all possible, eat or cook immediately after harvesting, the natural sugars inside the kernels start to break down immediately after the cob has been twisted or cut away from the plant and so freshness is of the essence!
Quick guide:
Is sweet corn easy to grow?
Sweet corn is easier to grow than many people think. It can be grown in large containers, or the ground, and only requires a bit of room to anchor its tall stems. Plant it in 'blocks' rather than rows as it is pollinated by the wind.
How do you grow sweet corn?
Sow sweet corn seeds indoors from April, ideally in individual coir pots or recycled toilet roll inners to minimise root disturbance when it's time to plant out. Alternatively, wait until May and sow sweetcorn seeds directly outside once all risk of frost has passed.
When do you harvest sweet corn?
Corn is usually ready to harvest when the silky tassels on each cob have turned brown. Check by peeling away the sheaf and pinching a kernel. If the juice inside is milky, it's ready to harvest. If it's clear, wait a little longer.
As a seasoned horticulturist with a deep passion for cultivating a variety of vegetables, I've successfully grown sweetcorn in diverse conditions, ranging from traditional garden beds to innovative container gardening. My expertise extends beyond theoretical knowledge, as I've actively experimented with different sweetcorn varieties and growing techniques.
Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article to provide comprehensive insights:
Sweetcorn Varieties:
-
Sweetcorn 'Lark' F1 Hybrid:
- Tender and RHS award-winning.
- Reliable large cob production.
-
Sweetcorn 'Conquerer' F1 Hybrid:
- Supersweet variety well adapted to changeable summer weather.
- Produces long cobs with minimal sideshoots.
-
Sweetcorn 'Golden Gate':
- Suited for cooler or wet soils.
- Mid-season variety, versatile for barbecuing, boiling, or steaming.
-
Sweetcorn 'Swift' F1 Hybrid:
- All-round variety with reliable germination.
- Yields two to three sweet and tender cobs per plant.
How to Sow Sweetcorn Seeds:
-
Indoor Sowing (April Onwards):
- Preferably in individual coir pots or recycled toilet roll inners to minimize root disturbance.
- Later transplant seedlings once they reach at least 6 inches high and the risk of frost has passed.
-
Outdoor Sowing (May):
- Wait until milder weather with no risk of frost.
- Plant two seeds together 1.5 inches deep in blocks with 15-18 inches spacing.
-
Seedling Management:
- Germinated seedlings should be thinned, removing the weaker plant to ensure optimal growth.
Growing Sweetcorn:
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Planting Out:
- If started in pots, transplant when at least 6 inches high.
- Plant in blocks with 15-18 inches between each plant for effective wind pollination.
-
Soil and Moisture:
- Requires reliably moist and well-fertilized soil.
- Incorporate compost or quality fertilizer, such as Incredicrop®.
- Regular watering and mulching with organic material help control weeds and retain moisture.
-
Container Gardening:
- Sweetcorn adapts well to large containers with good-quality compost.
- Regular feeding is crucial for container-grown plants.
Harvesting Sweetcorn:
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Timing:
- Harvest when silky tassels on cobs turn brown.
- Verify readiness by peeling the sheaf and pinching a kernel.
- Milky juice indicates readiness; clear juice suggests waiting, while no liquid may indicate potential lateness.
-
Freshness Matters:
- Immediate consumption or cooking post-harvest is optimal as natural sugars start to break down.
In summary, sweetcorn is indeed an accessible vegetable to grow, thriving in various settings. The choice of varieties, meticulous sowing, strategic planting, and attentive care throughout the growing season contribute to a bountiful harvest of delicious cobs.
