Sweetcorn

[greenbean]

Hi, Does anyone know if it is too early to pop my sweetcorn plants outside? They are getting too big for their wee propagator pots. I'm so impatient, I really shouldn't have sown them so soon, especially living here in the freezing north. I think I'll have to risk putting them outside, maybe with a poly sheet over them for a day or so. I have been hardening them off outside anyway. If anyone has some top tips I'd be most grateful.

[Andy Hamilton]

I have the same problem at the moment. Mine have been hardening off outside too. there has been a few frosts of late and they seem to be ok. I think I will risk mine, but up in stirling I would not be so sure, perhaps yes with a cold frame. Again please ask for more advice as I am guessing here really.

[hay331]

Hi there

I agree with Andy and would leave it another couple of weeks unless you have cold frame. As you know I am just along the road from you and there was very definitely frost early this morning! My hubby is the flower grower and won't start his seeds off till next week, he plants out end of Juneish.

[Millymollymandy]

I just planted my seeds straight into the ground a couple of days ago. Instructions on the packet just say to sow when the ground is warm enough (so what is warm enough?!!).

It's the first time I've grown sweetcorn. Do you get more than one cob per plant. I've planted about 25. Haven't seen any for sale in Brittany - probably like parsnips they think its cattle feed. I need my fix on the barbie though!

[Wombat]

G'Day M3!

It depends on the variety how many cobs per plant, usually one or two. Traditionally, the ground is warm enough when you can sit on the ground with your bare buttocks (and you don't freeze your bum off!). This can be quite entertaining for the neighbours!

The thing with corn is that you need to plant it in blocks rather than a single row so that the pollen from the top bit gets down to the silk in sufficient concentration for a good yield - otherwise you tend to get large gaps in the rows of kernals in your cobs! .

Nev

[Magpie]

Hey, Wombat - do I spot a fellow Jackie French fan?!

[Wombat]

Yeah, Magpie! I have most of her books and think that her stuff is pretty good.

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Wombat, I have planted the corn in blocks. As for the soil warmth, I think there were some days in March when it was warmer than it is now! I think I'll try that test through my jeans though!!!

[Wombat]

And I thought that you were a traditionalist!

Nev

[greenbean]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have planted them out and am covering them with plastic cloches (ends of plastic water bottles) at night to keep the chill off. Fingers crossed.
My well travelled brother-in-law tells me that in Mexico they squeeze lime juice over corn on the cob, no butter. I haven't tried it myself but am interested in this low-fat alternative, he tells me that it is yummy like this.

[hay331]

I decided to stop eating dairy but missed something tasty on my sweetcorn. Discovered that a very light coat of Umeboshi Paste is yummy!

[greenbean]

What on earth is Umeboshi Paste? Crikey, and I thought lime was sophisticated!

[hay331]

Here is some info!
Umeboshi (梅干, pickled Japanese plum) is a kind of pickled food. It's one of the Japanese traditional foods and it has been popular in Japan. It is red, round, and a little bit seamed, and its taste is very sour. Japanese people usually eat it with rice, resulting in what looks like the national flag of Japan, with the circular bright red center on a white field. The Japanese also put it into rice balls. It is said that umeboshi is good for health, and sometimes umeboshi is used as a cold remedy. A pickled plum never rots, so you can eat those which were made 100 years ago. (taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umeboshi)

Also "Umeboshi: A salty and sour pickled plum, traditionally used and known to be good for digestion." (http://www.goodhealthinfo.net/mdr/glossary.htm)

I love it, spread it on Spelt Bread. It is a bit expensive but lasts for ages because you only need very small amount. My first jar lasted over a year.

[Millymollymandy]

I planted 30 sweetcorn direct into the ground but only 3 have come up! That was about a week ago and no sign of any more. Can't see any rodent holes around there either. I'm not a happy bunny. They were a new packet of seed.

I had about 7 left in the packet so I've planted them in pots to see if they germinate.

Not having a lot of luck with things which have big seeds (like courgettes, pumpkins, sweetcorn or cucumbers). Now onto 2nd sowings of everything.

Is it the way I planted them (is there a 'right way up' with sweetcorn, courgettes etc? I did try the courgettes on their side as they looked the same at both ends)?

What's even more irritating is that my veg patch is directly next to a field full of maize which all appeared about 3 days after the farmer planted them, all in neat little rows! Grrrrr

[Magpie]

Have you tried digging up where you planted the seeds? Just try digging up one, then you can see if it's still there, if it's sprouted yet, or whatever is going on down there.
I plant 2 sweetcorn seeds in each hole, then pull out the weaker one later, if they both sprout. I have never worried about which way they are sown, if in doubt, though, it is good to sow them on their side, as you did with the other seeds.