Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
I'm starting to plan ahead for next year's allotment crop and I'm looking at
sweet corn. I know that some varieties have to be grown apart from other varieties, but I'm confused between tendersweet, extra sweet, supersweet, sugar sweet, etc. Could someone enlighten me as to which varieties have to be grown apart, and which varieties can be grown close to each other? Many thanks. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
"Mel" wrote in message ... I'm starting to plan ahead for next year's allotment crop and I'm looking at sweet corn. I know that some varieties have to be grown apart from other varieties, but I'm confused between tendersweet, extra sweet, supersweet, sugar sweet, etc. Could someone enlighten me as to which varieties have to be grown apart, and which varieties can be grown close to each other? Many thanks. As far as I'm aware the F1 hybrids should not be planted together. I think the various 'sweet' descriptions may be advertising similes from different firms. The one I've grown for 2 years running now, it's that good, is F1 Tasty Gold. It is very sweet and delicious. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
"Mel" wrote in message ... I'm starting to plan ahead for next year's allotment crop and I'm looking at sweet corn. I know that some varieties have to be grown apart from other varieties, but I'm confused between tendersweet, extra sweet, supersweet, sugar sweet, etc. I don't think I would grow more than one variety at a time. Alan |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing
order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. The SH2 or Shrunken seed's gene isn't that stable so pollen from SU or SE types can make it revert to field maize i.e not sweet at all. The same applies to the Tendersweet varieties. The SH2 seed looks shrunken or dried up in the packet btw. If the packet says grow apart, that's often an indication it's not SU or SE in type rather than the description. The Supersweet SH2's are sweet but tend to have a harder corn seed when eating them, so the Tendersweet was created to keep the increased sweetness but have the creamy texture of the older varieties. The other important thing about super and tender sweet varieties is that they keep that sweetness longer once cut (several days) and so are more use to the commercial food distribution network, for which they were created for. SU and SE will keep sweet for a day, bit longer in the fridge. Sweetcorn crosses easily being wind pollinated and it is the seed that we eat so it is not a problem that affects only those saving seed for next year. Many people grow several varieties based on how long they take to mature. There are described as early, mid and late season or often in number of days. So either choose several from the SU/SE group or ones from the others. It's usually quoted at 300ft+ to keep the two groups apart if they produce pollen (ie mature) at the same time. Otherwise growing ones from both groups can be done if their maturity dates are kept more than 2 weeks apart. Not easily with our varied summers messing growth up. There is a lot of info on the web about sweet corn varieties, often from US universities http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/h-223.html Googling a variety by name will usually yield it's gene type and days to harvest. SH2 types need warmer soil to germinate than others and so in a UK climate, late season (90+ days) might not make harvest in time. Btw there are loads of different block planting spacings around, nearly all work out at at least 144 sq inch for each plant. Normally 16 plants is stated as the minimum quantity for pollination, more is better. Poor pollination results in half filled cobs. Lack of nutients results in only one cob per plant. Sweetcorn are heavy feeders. There has been at least one field trial showing that the roots of broad beans improve the nutrient take up of sweet corn if that helps in your planning. Hope this helps Nigel * unless one is bi-colour or white and the other is yellow. Then some grains will be the other's colour. On Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:14:46 +0100, "Mel" wrote: I'm starting to plan ahead for next year's allotment crop and I'm looking at sweet corn. I know that some varieties have to be grown apart from other varieties, but I'm confused between tendersweet, extra sweet, supersweet, sugar sweet, etc. Could someone enlighten me as to which varieties have to be grown apart, and which varieties can be grown close to each other? Many thanks. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
"tony newton" wrote
There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. The SH2 or Shrunken seed's gene isn't that stable so pollen from SU or SE types can make it revert to field maize i.e not sweet at all.............. Tony, great information. Thank you! I now know what to look for when choosing my sweetcorn seeds for next year. This year I grew Sweet Nugget, which I see is an SH type. I must've had beginners luck, because the plants flowered very early and almost all produced well-filled cobs, ready at the beginning of September. Not all the cobs filled out well, however, and I only got 1 cob per plant, so next year I'll fertilise more carefully and perhaps make a bigger block. My allotment is up north on th'edge o'moors - cold, wet and windy - so I need a variety that will best tolerate these conditions. Once again, many thanks for your excellent advice. Regards. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
In article ,
tony newton wrote: There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. The SH2 or Shrunken seed's gene isn't that stable so pollen from SU or SE types can make it revert to field maize i.e not sweet at all. The same applies to the Tendersweet varieties. The SH2 seed looks shrunken or dried up in the packet btw. If the packet says grow apart, that's often an indication it's not SU or SE in type rather than the description. Interesting. I may try that :-) I was brought up on maize and much prefer 'proper' green maize, preferably half ripe (when it has a nutty taste). It's damn hard to get seed now on a domestic scale. I tried some of the 'heritage' varieties, but they were decorative rather than edible. They tasted fine, but were tough even by my standards and nobody else felt that they were worth the hard labour of eating them. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
"tony newton" wrote
There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. Hi again, Tony. I was thinking of growing Lark and Sundance. I think that Lark is an extra tendersweet and Sundance is a standard SU. So, these 2 cannot be grown together, is that right? Can different varieties of extra tendersweet be grown together, or do they also have to be separated from ANY other corn? Thanks. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:37:58 +0100, "Mel" wrote: "tony newton" wrote There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. Hi again, Tony. I was thinking of growing Lark and Sundance. I think that Lark is an extra tendersweet and Sundance is a standard SU. So, these 2 cannot be grown together, is that right? Can different varieties of extra tendersweet be grown together, or do they also have to be separated from ANY other corn? Thanks. Hi, Yes Sundance would contaminate Lark. They are both mid season so produce pollen at the same time. I don't know for sure if the extra sweet ones can be grown together, but I have read at least one person planting Swift, Lark and possibly Conqueror (or Kite) as early, medium and late croppers so keeping it going. If you aren't going to get a lot of sun or have a short season, I'd not bother with the late varieties Swift, Earlibird, Ovation, Excalibur, Orion and Seville are early or mid season varieties. You might not find these in garden centres but have to search online for commercial seed merchants (good value) . Try moleseeds. Sweetcorn seed should last for a couple of years. It really does pay to plant sevral seeds and only keep the most vigorous. Sad little seedlings don't catch up. The minimum is 16 of each variety, but more is better to ensure full pollination. As that takes up so much space (for what you get back) it's easy to start more plants than you have room for. I did this year! Started them in large3" newspaper pots as corn really doesn't like being disturbed. Supersweet types need warm soil so you might have to wait too late for yours to warm up enough. Hence starting indoors |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Sweet Corn
On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:37:58 +0100, "Mel"
wrote: "tony newton" wrote There are several types of gene sweetness described in increasing order of sweetness SU (Sugary), SE (Sugar Enhanced), SH2 (Supersweet) and finally the new tendersweet versions. The first two can be grown together usually without problems*. Hi again, Tony. I was thinking of growing Lark and Sundance. I think that Lark is an extra tendersweet and Sundance is a standard SU. So, these 2 cannot be grown together, is that right? Can different varieties of extra tendersweet be grown together, or do they also have to be separated from ANY other corn? Thanks. I think Seville is decribed as being good for cold areas. Swift has been described that way too and is an early season type. Sweet Nugget is decribed as mid season. If it works, keep growing it. Most corn only really makes one big cob. This year I found Conqueror did two worthwhile ones on a number of plants without loads of feeding. Late season varieties are supposed to crop heavier, but here we run the risk of runing out of summer. I think getting the plants in as early as possible (with cloche protection) is part of the cropping solution. Start indoors a couple of weeks before last frost date and get them in asap after that date (and protect) for a couple of weeks. Large clear plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off, and tops removed will make great individual cloches. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Country Gentleman sweet corn | Edible Gardening | |||
Sweet Corn | United Kingdom | |||
Spinach and Sweet Corn | United Kingdom | |||
Raccoons in the sweet corn | Edible Gardening | |||
Open pollenated sweet corn | Edible Gardening |