SWEETCORN SUCCESS OR FAILURE

Glad it's not just me then.

Same as @Lolimac, I've been growing Sweet Nugget with considerable success for a few years. This year, 50 seeds sown in a heated propagator, in three separate sowings about a fortnight apart. Total number of plants...... 5.

Since this seems to be a widespread problem this year, I'm going to fire off a letter/email to my seed supplier and see what they have to say on the matter.

I'm also wondering if this problem is spread across several different seed suppliers, or is it confined to just one or two? Might be interesting to compare notes on here and see what we come up with.

I'm having one last try with a packet of Lark I picked up in a garden centre at the weekend. We'll see what that produces.

 

@Trunky ...I'll do the same,be interesting to hear the feed back

 

A lot of folks make the mistake of over-watering. Basically, killing with kindness. Pretty sure I mentioned this elsewhere recently, but worth repeating....water sparingly when sowing, and stick the pot/container in a polythene bag, and supply gentle heat, on a windowsill should be fine. No further watering should be necessary until the bag is removed. I use a heated propagator in the greenhouse, and try to maintain (depending on which seed I'm trying to germinate) maybe an average temperature of around 18c?
Works for me

 

Unfortunatly some of us might not be able to afford that

 

I wasn't suggesting that you should invest in a greenhouse and propagator, but it's what I do. As I said, on a windowsill should be fine

 

i wish i had the space freddy. Unfortunately i don't

 

Maybe one day

 

maybe

 

I am glad that it isn't just me although that is a really bad thing what do you guys suggest we should do?

 

At 15 years old I would be surprised if you could!!!

Pop down to Sainsburys and buy some!!!

Val

 

tried that and the sold out.

 

Bought F1 seed germination:



Saved non-F1 seed germination (sown in same heated greenhouse in identical heated propagator and with identical watering regime):



Think I might try another side by side test with some different F1 seeds and the same non-F1s

 

Are they the old fashioned "tall" type then?

I figure the old type need a really good Summer to get a crop, and it comes late in the season, whereas the short F1 Supersweet ones are more "guaranteed" in a British summer. We are able to get ripe cobs (i.e. of Supersweet varieties) during August.

 

I've got them up to 8 feet tall with plenty of feeding.

 

Are they a long season crop though - harvested right at the end of summer - or have you got a variety that will mature sooner than that?

I was under the impression that it is only these newfangled F1 jobbies that have been bred to be short, and start cobbing-up and produce tassels with relatively few leaves, that would mature early. Plus they are supersweet into the bargain