How I grow Sweetcorn
While many vegetables make my eyes sparkle, sweetcorn is the one that puts a smile on my face. It’s the anticipation of what I might find within those green-leafed clasps, protecting the treasure kept within the ears. Will I find tight, butteryellow kernels like a cobbled Roman street, or the gaps of a modern-day, pothole-dented road? Life for sweetcorn begins in mid to late April. Seeds are sown in deep modules filled with peat-free compost. Dib holes 3cm deep, placing one seed per module. Water in and set to germinate in the greenhouse. After they’ve germinated, move the tray into a cold frame for around two weeks to harden them off. Ensure the planting area is weed-free and enriched with organic matter like manure; you can work in some blood, fish and bone meal, too. Then, plant them out in a block formation. Plant them when they’re about 10cm tall, spacing at 40cm. Once watered in, keep the plants well hydrated until established. Don’t forget to weed around the plants, and maintain soil moisture throughout the summer. By July, flower spikes begin to appear on top of the plants and you’ll notice ears forming along the stem with silky beards, much like tassels. These catch the pollen shaken from the top. Cobs are ready to harvest when the beards turn brown. Peel, and let the kernels delight your taste buds.
VARIETIES TO TRY
Sweetcorn is a must-grow crop for me. If you have the space, grow a tall variety like ‘Damaun’. It’s my favourite to grow from saved seeds, producing two or three cobs per plant. This year I’m also adding to my collection an heirloom variety called ‘True Gold’, which is said to produce tender, golden-yellow kernels with a rich, old-fashioned corn flavour. Ooh, I can’t wait.