Tips for sowing sweetcorn

As last year's attempt at growing sweetcorn was a disaster due to poor germination (all three sowings) I wondered if anyone has any tips regarding how and when to sow.

 

A am not an expert by any means but just so happens I have been potting on some Sweetcorn today. I bought myself a heated propogator and have been "playing" with it. I sowed 10 F1 seeds (can't remember the variety) in the propogator about 10 days ago, 9 germinated in less than a week and they are now about 3 inches tall and needed potting on into loo roll thingies. Absolute cinch. I have had less than exciting results sowing Sweetcorn in coolish soil tho. Looks like they need heat but see you shouldn't be short of that unlike where I live!. Perhaps your seed wasn't good? I was actually given the F1 seed, it's been treated with something as the seeds are red. Maybe see if you can buy F1 seed and try that.
The above may be absolute rubbish as I do not profess to know that much just recounting my experience, maybe another person will be able to give you better advice that me.

 

Mice love sweetcorn and yes sweetcorn like warm soil

 

I'll start mine off in pots in the greenhouse about the start of May with a view to planting out 3 to 4 weeks later. By then the soil will have warmed up and the nights should be warmer. Plant out in blocks rather than rows as they are wind pollinated. Plenty of water.
The red colour is a seed dressing to protect from disease, wash hands after handling the seed and keep away from pets and children.

 

Warm and moist in a propagator and avoiding letting the soil stay wet gets me 90+% germination. Even sowings on staging in a heated greenhouse have all rotted. I think some people germinate them in the warmth on damp kitchen towel.

That seems rather early for 400 miles North of me when I'll be sowing my first batch 2nd week of April.

 

Did I not say I was not an expert on Sweetcorn Scrungee?!. I couldn't resist playing with my new propagator and lights. The Sweetcorn is only about 3 inches tall but humugus roots already so have stuck them in loo roll things for the time being. They will probably get potted on again and transferred to the greenhouse in about 3 to 4 weeks. Despite what many people think our weather isn't that much worse than down South (Lived in North London for 22 years) The weather forecasters on the TV seem to concerntrate on what is going on on the top of Ben Nevis rather than the rest of the country. This winter we have had oh all of about an inch of snow and seldom been below freezing. Where I live is considerably drier than the majority of England funnily enough. That said the West of Scotland is snorkel and flipper country.

 

You don't live on Summer isle do you?

 

You're a cheeky bu..er Zigs How did you guess?

 

Thanks for the replies people! (except Zigs whose contribution was completely useless ) I think I'll hang on another week or so as the temperatures are yo-yoing like mad here at the moment (20ºC one day, 6ºC the next).

 

Found out today, from Marshalls, that this is a compound called Thiram chiefly a fungicide.

 

Just thought I'd add an update: I waited until I knew a warm spell was coming, sowed indoors in the conservatory/porch (as I did last time btw, but it just coincided with a really cold spell), et voilá!! Two weeks later 100% germination!! They're now over a foot tall and are hardening off outdoors in a sheltered spot (at the moment things being hardened off are having to be protected from the heat rather than the cold!).

 

@Lorea Congratulations. I've currently got 75% germination.