Sweetcorn disaster

Comment by Flighty on June 25, 2011 at 11:49

Hello Peter and welcome to the forum.  I presume that you sowed seed that didn't germinate and you had to buy plants instead.

As I'm sure you realise there really is no foolproof way in gardening and we all have problems like this now and again.  It's just one of those things that happens, and often isn't an error on our part. 

Try again next year and, fingers crossed, you'll be okay.

 

Comment by Jan Willetts on June 27, 2011 at 17:45

I have had similar problems this year-the first lot rotted and the second lot look so feeble I didn't know whether to bother planting them out. But I put some chicken manure pellets around the planting holes and have watered well and they are at last looking like reasonable plants, but slugs are a bit of problem with such small plants so lots of slug pubs and eggshells everywhere.

Comment by Peter Clayton on June 27, 2011 at 20:34

Thanks Jan and Flighty for the comments. I have also noticed that the seeds used for the sweetcorn plants I purchased from the garden center were a red colour and I have purchased some of these seeds before, although it was some time ago. I believe the coating is an anti rot protection and it seemed to work so will maybe look for these next time if available.

Cheers

 

Comment by Stephen Byrne on June 27, 2011 at 21:28

Hello Peter, it was my first try at sweetcorn this year. At the first sowing only 8 out of 15 germinated, which doesn't give much for a block-planting, does it? Before the second attempt I did a bit of reading up and so I ended up chitting them - in a tupperware tub between damp sheets of kitchen towel, placed in the airing cupboard for two days. It worked, all the seeds germinated and grew on. They were coated like yours. Who knows though, it may not work at all for me next year!

Comment by Stephen Byrne on June 27, 2011 at 21:32

P.S. I should add I did lose some though - in a gale in May, when a parasol was blown on top of them as they were being hardened off!

Comment by John Martin on June 28, 2011 at 23:16

Hi Peter

I try manfully to grow sweetcorn up here on The Moray coast NE Scotland.  I find that gentle heat from below and try not to have the compost too moist works fairly well for me with about 80% germination.  My main problem is if we don't get enough sun during the growing season.  Last year was not good and it is not looking great this year with plants onlr about a foot high.

Comment by Peter Clayton on July 2, 2011 at 18:00

Thanks John & Stephen for the comments. I have also spoken today to another allotment holder and he says every year is hit and miss on all his veg but he has stated that he chits his seeds in the airing cupboard on wet kitchen towel, checks every day and gets about 85% plus results so will try this for the sweetcorn and other veg as well.

Cheers

Peter

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