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 s soon as a cob of corn is picked, the sugars that produce its sweetness begin to convert to starch and the kernels become less juicy. So it follows, that the less distance the cobs have to travel between the plant and a pan of boiling water, the better they'll taste. Reason enough to try growing a few plants yourself.
Site and soil
Sweetcorn is the sunshine crop, and it needs plenty of sunlight to produce fat, juicy cobs. It also needs a well-fertilised, rich soil that is preferably slightly acid (pH 5.5-7), in a fairly sheltered spot. Before sowing or planting, rake in a general fertiliser, such as Vitax Growmore, at the rate given on the packet.
Sowing and planting
In all but the mildest parts of the country it is best to start under cover, introducing plants outside in late May or early June, when there is little risk of frost. Alternatively, you can sow sweetcorn outdoors in colder climes under cloches. |
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Sow the seed 2.5cm (1in) deep and 38-45cm (15-18in) apart in drills, including two to three seeds at each station to allow for losses. Again, thin them out to leave the strongest seedling. If using cloches, keep them in place until the young plants grow too big to fit under them.
Aftercare
Sweetcorn does not need a lot of watering but, for a better crop, keep the plants moist when they're flowerin and when the kernels are swelling. Apply a liquid feed, high in potash, such as Vitax Liquid Tomato Feed, weekly during summer to help speed up the rate polinated cobs mature. Either weed by hand or carefully with a hoe, so as not to damage roots or stems. As the plants grow, draw up soil around the stems for support.
Harvesting
Depending on your sweetcorn variety, and the weather, expect to start picking cobs from mid-summer until the middle of autumn. |
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Sow a couple of seeds 2.5cm (1in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) peat pots in mid-spring. When the temperature reaches 13-18°C (55-65°F), seedling should appear in seven to 10 days.
When the plants are about 7.5cm (3in) high, thin them out to leave the strongest seedling. By using pots made from peat, both plant and pot can be transplanted and left to their own devices, as the roots will grow through the walls of the pots into the soil.
Harden off the plants before planting them out, allowing 38-45cm (15-18in) distance between them and 15cm (6in) for mini sweetcorn. To give the plants a chance to acclimatise to the great outdoors, it's a good idea to cover them with fleece for a few days.
If you do decide to sow direct into open ground, wait until the middle of May. If you can cover the ground with cloches a couple of weeks before sowing, this will warm the soil and help germination. |
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Each stem will yield a couple of cobs. Pick them when the silks begin to turn brown and, if you insert your thumbnail into a kernel, a thin creamy white milk should ooze out. If the liquid is pale and watery, the cobs are not ready to be harvested. If the liquid is either thick or non-existent, the cobs are past their best. To harvest them, twist the cobs fromt he plant, or snal them sharply downwards.
For best results, you should cook the cobs immediately after picking, either in boiling water for five to 10 minutes, or wrapped in buttered foil and placed in the hot ashes of a barbecue for about 10 minutes.
To freeze, cook the cobs in boiling water, cool them quickly in iced water, then cut the kernels from the stem and freeze in plastic bags. |
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