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Gardening in the UK

Starting sweetcorn

21 years ago

I've got some Supersweet sweetcorn seeds and my plot is in Surrey. Is it best to start corn seeds off in a cold frame, or should I just wait to direct seed outside when it warms up?

Thanks everyone.

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Comments (4)

Pond
21 years ago
You would probably get away with direct sowing. I live on the south coast and I always start mine off indoors, in toilet rolls (minus the paper!) This way I can be sure they will be safe from the strong winds we have down here. If you do decide to sow them direct, make sure you give them some protection.
Old_Hazza
21 years ago
Either way is OK. The seeds should be in soil of a minimum 15ÂºC (if you have a soil thermometer check it about 9 am each day) in order to germinate and thrive. They CAN be transplanted into cooler soil and still grow,but best if the soil is warm. They tend to be shallow rooted, and with field grown maize (and sweetcorn)I like to sow in the bottom of a furrow and then earth up a few inches once the plants are established. Old McDonald.
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flora_uk
21 years ago
I find starting it indoors gets you off to an earlier start and produces better plants than outdoor sowing, even under jamjars. (I live in the SW)It grows quite fast inside so don't start it too early or you'll be left with plants getting spindly as you wait for warm enough weather to plant out.
britmum
21 years ago
I totally envy you --if you can grow corn there in your Garden -- in the the Midwest here --where they grow tons of field corn --we have a hard time growing it in our garden --we did direct sow --in early May [but in zone 5]
By the time the corn got to about 4 foot and the weather was getting hot]the cucumber beetles were on the atack and we ended up just pulling the corn --what a waste of space
I think we have had one good crop out of trying 3 times ..........then with then when it got hummid or rained we got corn smut [galls]
Hope you beter luck than we did
Janice Britmum

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