Sweetcorn Growing Guide

Zea mays convar. saccharata

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Warmed, well-drained soil enriched with compost.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No.

Feeding

Not usually required.

Spacing

Single Plants: 35cm (1' 1") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 45cm (1' 5") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow in pots under cover in mid spring and plant out in early summer. Alternatively sow direct under cloches in late spring.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Plant in blocks of at least 9 plants, all the same variety, to encourage pollination by the wind. Often planted with squash as they like similar conditions. Keep well watered in dry spells.

Harvesting

Harvest just before eating to get the sweetest taste, when the tassles at the top of the cobs turn brown to black. You can peel back the leaves and check the corn: if they ooze milky sap when pressed with a fingernail then they are ready.