Among the numerous varieties on the market, after much deliberation you will definitely find the right specimen. To ensure that the cultivation of your chosen sweet corn is successful, there are a few things to consider.
How to successfully grow sweet corn?
Growing sweetcorn works best if you choose a sunny, warm, wind-protected location, loosen the substrate, sow seeds from the end of March and choose good plant neighbors such as beans or pumpkins. Maintain distances of 60-80 cm between rows and 30-40 cm between plants.
Where and in what does sweet corn grow best?
An ideal location is in a sunny, warm and wind-protected location. The substrate in which the sweet corn is planted should be thoroughly loosened before planting and enriched with lime and an organic fertilizer such as compost (€41.00 on Amazon) or stable manure. The following features are important:
- pH value between 5.5 and 7 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- high nutrient content
- profound
- calcareous
- good to keep moist
When are the seeds sown?
The seeds can be grown in pots at home from the end of March/beginning of April until the beginning of May at the latest. Before sowing it is advisable to let them soak in water for a few hours. Direct sowing is not done before mid-May as sweet corn is sensitive to cold.
Which plant neighbors are suitable?
Sweet corn can easily be cultivated with shallow-rooted vegetables. A mixed culture with runner beans and pumpkins is also known. Good plant neighbors include:
- Peas
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Pumpkins
- Melons
- Zucchinis
- Salads
- Potatoes
- Sunflowers
- Dill
What distance is necessary between the rows and the plants?
So that the individual plants do not interfere with each other and can still pollinate well, planting in blocks or double rows is recommended. A row spacing of 60 to 80 cm is ideal for later walking through and viewing. A distance of between 30 and 40 cm from plant to plant in the row is sufficient.
When is the sweet corn harvested?
The sweet corn is ready to harvest approximately three weeks after flowering. Basically, the ripeness of the cobs depends on the variety. But the intended use (seed collection or consumption) also decides. Some varieties ripen at the end of July, while other varieties are not ready to eat until mid-August.
Tip
Sweetcorn can be easily propagated by leaving a cob on the plant and waiting until it is fully ripe and begins to dry. However, this is only possible with seed-resistant varieties such as 'Damaun' and 'Golden Bantam'.
