Growing sweetcorn is worthwhile, even on a small scale, for those who either want to use it themselves or feed it to livestock. Sowing is not child's play - if you ignore a few points, you can expect the cultivation to go wrong.
When and how is sweet corn sowed?
Sweet corn is ideally sown in May after the Ice Saints by sowing the pre-swollen seeds 3 to 4 cm deep in at least one double row. The location should be in full sun, protected from the wind and the soil should be deep, nutrient-rich and slightly calcareous.
The right time
Sweet corn can be grown in pots from the end of March. If you do not sow sweetcorn early but instead sow it directly, you should wait until frost is no longer expected. According to the farmers' rule, this is the case after the Ice Saints in May. The ground should have warmed up to at least 10 °C.
Let the seeds pre-soak
The sweet corn seeds, which can germinate for an average of 5 years, should be pre-soaked for 8 to 10 hours before sowing. To do this, use warm water. After pre-swelling, the seeds are ready to sow.
Prefer or sow directly?
If you want to be on the safe side, you should eat sweet corn at home:
- Place 2 seeds (with the tip down) per seed hole
- Sow 3 to 4 cm deep
- cover with soil
- Germination time: 8 to 10 days
- place in a bright place
- Keep soil moist
- remove the weaker plant after it has expired
When direct sowing, the seeds are best covered with foil after sowing. This speeds up the germination process and reduces the risk of freezing. Remember: Sweet corn should always be sown in at least one double row so that the flowers can pollinate each other later!
What location and row spacing are necessary?
Sow or plant the corn in a full sun spot. This plant is particularly warm and needs a lot of sunshine to grow and ripen its fruits quickly. Wind-protected locations are ideal.
A distance between rows of 60 to 80 cm and from plant to plant of 30 to 40 cm is recommended. The soil should have the following properties:
- profound
- nutrient-rich
- likes limestone
- pH value between 5.5 and 7
Tip
Don't sow the sweet corn too early! Wait until there is definitely no more frost. If sweet corn is sown and temperatures subsequently fall below 5 °C, it will freeze quickly.
