Sweetcorn needs space and good soil. In our home vegetable garden we planted lots of sweetcorn even though we do not have a large area. We just made space because having our own sweetcorn was important to us. As far as success rates go, we felt that we got a good deal. We managed to squeeze in three plantings from spring to mid-summer but the corn that was planted first was definately the best crop.

How to grow sweetcorn - planting
As always, prepare your soild with lots of compost and well rotted horse or chicken manure. We add lots of Bounce Back to the area instead of manure.

Choose open pollinated heirloom seeds for your sweetcorn seeds. This means that two cobs will be saved for next season's planting and you will not have to buy seed again.

Sweetcorn needs to be grown in blocks, not long lines. A square of about 3 - 4 rows, 1 - 2 m long will be adequate. Don't be over zealous and crowd your corn, leave about 15 cm between each seed.

How to grow sweetcorn - long term care
Corn has a relatively shallow root system for the size of the plant. Take care to keep the ground moist and mulch around the stalks in the summer heat.

They are also are demanding plants on soil nutrients, so make sure to plan a planting of nitrogen fixing legumes like beans or peas in this spot once you have harvested all the cobs.

Harvesting Sweetcorn
About 9 - 12 weeks after sowing you can harvest your corn. Choose one cob and pull back the sheathe to see if they are fully developed. The kernels will excrete a milky substance when ready.

Pick what you need each evening, but do not leave ripe cobs on the stalks for too long as they become tough quite quickly.

Sweetcorn can be harvested and cut off the cob, blanched and frozen to use later in the year.

The stalks can be put through a shredder and used as mulch elsewhere in your garden or put into the compost heap.

Quick Notes

When to plant: Sow into blocks in early spring.

How many plants: Blocks of 12 by 12, 3 times over.

How long to harvest: 9 - 12 weeks after sowing.

Successive planting: You may squeeze in 3 plantings over a staggered 3 week period.