Sweetcorn and cauliflowers

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Jul 1, 2015.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    I am wondering if I have dropped a bit of a clog somewhere along the line. I sowed my sweetcorn months ago, and they have been in their planted out position (in huge barrels) for a good number of weeks, and seem to be doing quite well. I was in the garden centre last weekend, and they were selling sweetcorn seedlings - they were about the size of my thumb.

    A local farmer has also recently planted his field up with sweetcorn for the second year running, and his are no more than six inches tall - - mine are around 4ft tall! Did I sow them too early?

    And cauliflowers - never grown them before, but love a good cauliflower and have some plants that are behind netting that are getting pretty big now; in terms of a brassica, they look happy and healthy (big leaves, tall and sturdy looking), however they currently look more like a big cabbage than a cauliflower (I expected them to be shorter and stumpier) - have I gone wrong somewhere?
     
    Fat Controller, Jul 1, 2015
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  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    No harm in getting an early start with sweetcorn FC, the only reason for delaying is to avoid frosts, they have a long growing season so I reckon you have done the right thing.

    I assume you are growing a summer variety of cauli? They do need to be kept well watered so check they are not dry (I'm currently watering every other day here).
     
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      JWK, Jul 1, 2015
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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      I am watering daily, and the caulis look really quite happy - the leaves are huge (the plants must be standing nearly 12 inches tall now), and have been fed on a mixed diet of chicken poo pellets and miracle gro

      I am pretty sure that they are summer ones - or all year round ones maybe?
       
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        Fat Controller, Jul 2, 2015
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      • Cannyfullpots

        Cannyfullpots Gardener

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        My sweetcorn is growing sloooowlyyyyyyy! I planted 9 & have only 3 left :( 1 of those is really struggling - keeping fingers crossed to get 2 of them up there. image.jpg
         
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          Cannyfullpots, Jul 9, 2015
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          My sweetcorn sown, May indoors then moved outside early June, is approaching 4ft.
          As for caulis they produce a lot of leaf before the curd develops to any extent. Plants 12" tall will at least double in height.
           
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            NigelJ, Jul 9, 2015
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Ditto, but I have to hold the top leaf up.

            sweetcorn.jpg
             
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              Scrungee, Jul 10, 2015
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            • bluebird819

              bluebird819 Apprentice Gardener

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              I sowed my sweetcorn a couple of months ago in the greenhouse and moved them outside mid-may and they are as tall as me now... about 5ft 6". I will try and get some up to date pictures when I get home.
               
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                bluebird819, Jul 10, 2015
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              • Lolimac

                Lolimac Guest

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                It's been a good year for my sweetcorn so far,probably because I held back sowing too early like I normally do:doh:

                P1080038.JPG
                 
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                  Lolimac, Jul 13, 2015
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                • silu

                  silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                  I sowed my Sweetcorn early (around middle of March in a propagator) as I always intended to grow mine in my greenhouse as doubtful it would be consistently warm enough outside up here in Scotland. Yum yum have had 2 cobs already and loads more to come. Next year I will trying growing some outside as I met someone who's way more knowledgeable than me and he said you can get Sweetcorn to grow up here quite successfully altho unlikely to get more than 1 cob per plant.
                  My only snag was the plants grew a bit taller than the roof of my greenhouse and the flowers got bent over but with loads of shaking, pollination so far seems good.
                   
                  silu, Jul 13, 2015
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                • Scrungee

                  Scrungee Well known for it

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                  I might have a bit a trouble growing the Mexican white giant sweetcorn in the image posted above (post #6) in either a greenhouse or polytunnel

                  [​IMG]



                  P.S. Not to be confused with Jolly Green Giant Mexican style sweetcorn
                   
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                    Last edited: Jul 13, 2015
                    Scrungee, Jul 13, 2015
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                  • Cannyfullpots

                    Cannyfullpots Gardener

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                    WOW @Scrungee - mine are nowhere near that size! Am just pleased mine are still alive :-)
                     
                    Cannyfullpots, Jul 13, 2015
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                  • Cannyfullpots

                    Cannyfullpots Gardener

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                    Been to the allotment today. I bought sweetcorn to plant, there was 30 in the tray, I replanted them 2 days ago & they are all having a major huffy!! Havent got a pic but will try get one later on.

                    Theyre all bowing down - unfortunately not for me as am hardly the queen of gardening !

                    Why oh why do they get so upset when they're moved!?
                     
                    Cannyfullpots, Jul 15, 2015
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