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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 12:19:18 GMT 1
I know we've got a big allotment but we were on the verge of giving it up as we were always busy at weekends and I can't get down there during the week as our other car isn't working, but we are now determined to keep it.
But meanwhile since we've bought all these seeds and I have half a water butt going begging in the garden I decided to plant these sweetcorn seeds, 15" apart in there which means the grand total of 3 plants in all. I've also planted a load of salad leaves in there too which I'll harvest while the sweetcorn's growing(hopefully).
What are my chances of the sweetcorn growing, as I've just read that to ensure pollination they should be planted in a group? This group is very thin on the ground - should I have had a go at something else for this time of year? We have a bumper vegetable pack with all sorts in there.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 15, 2008 12:37:48 GMT 1
Funny you should post that Debbie.
I was thinking the same thing as I haven't converted sufficient lawn over to veg plot yet and I was wondering about say 4 pots of sweetcorn together.
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Post by debidoos on May 15, 2008 14:48:25 GMT 1
You could just go and give the tassels at the top a good shake everyday and the pollen will drop down onto where the cobs form, that should do it.
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 14:51:05 GMT 1
Thanks Debbie, will do.  I was also thinking of planting a courgette plant in the middle of them, is that a bad idea? I'm assuming all the salad leaves will be long gone by the time it comes up. |
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Post by debidoos on May 15, 2008 14:52:56 GMT 1
You could train it around the bases of the sweetcorn, it'll stop weeds trying to set up home, just make sure everything gets enough water as they are all thirsty crops!
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 14:55:07 GMT 1
Fantastic - thanks! |
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 15:23:19 GMT 1
Fantastic - thanks! I'm not sure I agree with Debidoos Debbie. Firstly sweetcorn requires as long a growing season as possible for a successful crop. It also needs good watering. If you seeds have not even germinated yet I would say you are too late for this year. You would have to be very lucky with the weather to be successful now. I would save the seeds now for next year. Secondly sweetcorn pollinates by the pollen drifting down from the tops of one plant and fertilising each tassel from the cobs on another plant. As such it is important to plant in blocks rather than rows to ensure that no matter what direction the breeze is blowing, pollen will be productive somewhere. Each tassel on a cob needs to be fertilised by a pollen grain. Each failure will result in an ungrown bead in the cob. Leaving a space in the middle for a cucurbit is unwise imho. And finally sweetcorn puts out buttress roots to obtain more moisture from not far below the soil surface. Putting a cucurbit plant in competition with it will put crippling competition in the way for the sweetcorn. Collectively - late germination, poor distribution and aggressive competition would almost certainly ensure a crop failure. |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 15, 2008 15:33:22 GMT 1
I tend to agree with Sleepy. Sweetcorn really needs a larger square than 3 to pollenate and it is a rat magnet too Debbie - that's why I don't grow it now. I get them from where I work instead, for free ;D I have tried the underplanting thing with concurbits and it was a disaster.....the sweetcorn hated it, the courgettes were a nightmare to find and the whole thing was more trouble than it was worth, I felt. But it's up to you...... ;D Beans might be a better bet..Purple climbing French beans (gorgeous) trained up a tripod in the butt, or Hestia dwarf runners which have a bushy habit rather than a climbing one. You could underplant with Nasturtiums to cover the butt - they are edible. Or Tumbling Toms maybe.... |
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 16:16:39 GMT 1
Thanks Sleepy and 4P. I was just going by the planting dates on the packet and thought I stood a chance. I think I'd already planted them when I spotted the info about the blocks. : I've missed the planting dates for a lot of the seed I've got and the only beans in the packs have already been planted up the allotment. I'm just trying to have a go with what I've already got. If then sweetcorn plants do germinate I won't do any more with them if not much will happen - would one courgette plant be OK instead? The pack's got Cabbage Greyhound and Golden Acre, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Courgettes F1 Zucchini and carrots, spinach and parsnips with planting dates which tie in with now. I keep thinking about growing just one courgette plant. I could easily keep it watered and I'm sure I read somewhere very recently that they can be grown in pots if they are large enough? As you can tell I really am fumbling around in the dark and a complete novice! That poor allotment............. |
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 16:23:08 GMT 1
Thanks Sleepy and 4P. I was just going by the planting dates on the packet and thought I stood a chance. I think I'd already planted them when I spotted the info about the blocks. : I've missed the planting dates for a lot of the seed I've got and the only beans in the packs have already been planted up the allotment. I'm just trying to have a go with what I've already got. If then sweetcorn plants do germinate I won't do any more with them if not much will happen - would one courgette plant be OK instead? The pack's got Cabbage Greyhound and Golden Acre, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Courgettes F1 Zucchini and carrots, spinach and parsnips with planting dates which tie in with now. I keep thinking about growing just one courgette plant. I could easily keep it watered and I'm sure I read somewhere very recently that they can be grown in pots if they are large enough? As you can tell I really am fumbling around in the dark and a complete novice! That poor allotment............. I really would leave them now for this year, and make sure you start early next year. Then pray for a long warm summer, and choose an early ripening variety. My favourite was always 'Two's Sweeter' - a bicolour. Probably not available any more. Plant your courgette in a tub. Our better still two courgettes in two tubs - they needs cross pollination too. |
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 16:29:07 GMT 1
I've got a cut down water butt with some lovely soil in it just begging for something to go in there. I think I could probably just about fit two plants in there if they need to be planted 2ft apart. and maybe plant a couple of others in other pots?
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 16:31:01 GMT 1
I've got a cut down water butt with some lovely soil in it just begging for something to go in there. I think I could probably just about fit two plants in there if they need to be planted 2ft apart. and maybe plant a couple of others in other pots? A barrel tub with a diameter of that of a water butt would be suitable for one bush courgette Debbie. Too small for two plants. There are bush and trailing varieties btw |
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 16:39:50 GMT 1
Thanks - this one's doesn't say whether it's a bush or trailing variety, just Courgette F1 Zucchini. I bet it's the trailing kind.
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 16:41:07 GMT 1
Thanks - this one's doesn't say whether it's a bush or trailing variety, just Courgette F1 Zucchini. I bet it's the trailing kind. I think the majority are bush |
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 16:42:26 GMT 1
Thanks - this one's doesn't say whether it's a bush or trailing variety, just Courgette F1 Zucchini. I bet it's the trailing kind. I think the majority are bush is an interesting variety in that the fruits are round |
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 15, 2008 16:43:25 GMT 1
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 16:49:05 GMT 1
Yes, exactly. Sweetie has posted that photo to emphasise that one plant is enough for one tub Debbie. |
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 16:49:26 GMT 1
 I can understand the planting distances now. Thanks for the photo!
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 15, 2008 16:52:16 GMT 1
Yes, exactly. Sweetie has posted that photo to emphasise that one plant is enough for one tub Debbie. They can get Enormous Debbie! ;D |
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 17:10:14 GMT 1
Am I guaranteed to get some fruit with two plants, if the growing conditions are right?
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 15, 2008 17:13:45 GMT 1
Am I guaranteed to get some fruit with two plants, if the growing conditions are right? Oh yes, more than you need! ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 17:21:19 GMT 1
Am I guaranteed to get some fruit with two plants, if the growing conditions are right? Oh yes, more than you need! ;D Not if they surcumb to cucumber mosaic virus. And that is very common. |
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 15, 2008 17:24:59 GMT 1
Oh yes, more than you need! ;D Not if they surcumb to cucumber mosaic virus. And that is very common. Lets be a bit more positive babe?  |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 15, 2008 18:08:15 GMT 1
My sweetcorn packet said to plant the seed in May..I plan to grow 4 plants in a square in the corner of the vegetable raised bed..I only sowed the seed 3 days ago (2 seeds in each hole)..under 'lemonade bottle cloches'.
I grew them in tubs last year, sown in May and we had some lovely cobs off them.
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Post by debbiem on May 15, 2008 21:28:07 GMT 1
I think I remember seeing some sweetcorn in the photos of your garden Cheery. And great to know that they did well - did you get many from them?
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I can understand the planting distances now. Thanks for the photo!