The Easiest way to grow Sweetcorn in the UK. That sounds like a definitive statement, that’s because it is. I have tried many different ways to grow sweetcorn and this is by far my most successful.
How To Grow Sweetcorn
When I started growing vegetables I was advised by many “experts” not to waste my time with sweetcorn as it needed longer, hotter summers than we get in the UK. I spent my formative years as a greengrocer and throughout late Summer and early Autumn I used to sell British grown sweetcorn, Which tasted incredibly sweet so as soon as I could I started experimenting with how to grow sweetcorn.
Sweetcorn Growing Techniques
I tried many techniques ranging from direct sowing to individual paper pots. Using these various methods, I had mixed results and so over the years I have developed the most successful system for growing and producing great tasting, healthy sweetcorn.
Basic Hints For Growing Sweetcorn
As with growing all plants the secret to growing Sweetcorn is … The soil. Start in late Winter or early Spring by preparing the area as you would any seed bed. Then add plenty of compost or well rotted manure. Clear all weeds and keep clear until it’s time to plant out your corn plants.
Best Results For Growing Sweetcorn
For best results, in April take a large pot and sow 6 seeds in a circle around the pot about twice as deep as the size of the seed. Water well and place in a unheated greenhouse and in about 10-14 days you will see grass like plants starting to appear.
Keep pots moist and as April turns to May start hardening off your plants by placing them outside during daylight hours and returning to the greenhouse at dusk.
When To Plant Out
Plant Sweetcorn out after all threat of frost has passed. In Essex where I am, that is usually the end of May (check your local area).
How To Plant Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn pollinates by wind pollination so the plants need to be planted in blocks not rows. Depending how many plants you have, plant either 3×3, 4×4 and so on allowing 12 inches between plants. Sweetcorn grows to around 6 feet high so either stake with canes or bank up the soil around stem of the plants as they grow to protect from wind damage. Once the plants have formed corns feed with comfrey plant foodor tomato food.
How To Pollinate Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is wind pollinated, but you can help it along by gently shaking the plants by hand to help release the pollen from the top of the plant onto the corn cob tassels lower down. The corn is ready to pick once the silky tassels go dark brown. Just twist the corn away from the plant or cut with secateurs.
Speed Is Of The Essence
As soon as the sweetcorn is picked it should be consumed. The sugar in sweetcorn starts converting to starch almost immediately so the sooner it is eaten the sweeter it will be. Boil a pan of water and add the sweetcorn once the water is boiling. Boil for no longer than 2 minutes to keep the corn soft and sweet.
Expected Crop
A happy sweetcorn plant will produce 2 heads of corn but don’t be disappointed if you only get 1. From this you can roughly work out how many corn plants to grow for your needs.
Companion Plants
The Indigenous American people used to grow what they called the 3 sisters, this entailed growing Sweetcorn with Squash, and Runner Beans. The beans were grown using the sweetcorn as bean supports and the squashes were used as ground cover.
There are other plants that can be planted around sweetcorn including fast growing crops like lettuce, radishes and rocket.
That was a great guide. I didn’t even know yall could grow sweet corn over in the UK!
Thanks George, I reckon it’s easier to grow sweetcorn in warmer climes but I have had great success with growing sweetcorn in the UK.
My sweetcorns are growing well, but on some have a second or third small stem. Will these minor stems detract from the strength of the main one?
Hi Paul,
Those small stems or suckers as they’re often called, are caused usually by damage to the main plant or by the plants being too far apart. Another factor that encourages the formation of suckers in sweetcorn is high nitrogen content and high moisture. They shouldn’t detract from the main stem, and they will possibly produce ears of corn as well.
I hope this helps.
Happy gardening
All the best
Steve
This is my first planting season in the UK. We’re in North Yorkshire. Very amateur gardeners. We planted a sunflower house with corn between the giant sunflowers in mid-April. They’re still small, but are slowly growing. Will they grow fully and produce corn or not? If they will produce, when should we expect to harvest? Thanks for your knowledge!
Hi Marie,
You should get some corn but it might be small, this is because corn takes quite a long time to grow large ears.
You might only get mini corns or baby corn as they call it in the supermarkets.
How fertile was the soil? If your corn plants are still small maybe try using a tomato feed like tomorite,or or a dry fertilizer like bonemeal, to add extra nutrients to the soil.
Unfortunately we are all at the mercy of the weather here in the UK.Let’s hope it warms up a bit, that should give the growth a boost.
If it does get hot remember to water the corn regularly.
How are the sunflowers doing?
All the best
Steve
My corn has gone to seed so I have aided the pollination by putting seeds into the V made by branches & the stem, rather than hoping the wind will do it.
Gently shaking the plants will mimic the winds movement and will release the pollen.
You could also use a kiddies paint brush to hand pollinate the corn to make sure of it.
All the best
Steve
Thanks Steve. We dug out the circle and filled with about 6″ of multipurpose compost from B&Q. It was all we could get during early lockdown. I’ve used Miracle Grow a few times, but probably not as regularly as I should have. The sunflowers have been successful for the most part. The heads are just starting to appear. All of the giants are growing well, with the tallest at 1.6m as of Monday. We planted them on the inner ring. The outer ring has 2 different varieties. A medium height and shorter height. Most are doing well, except one section of the circle (4 in a row) haven’t even reached 10 cm. We don’t understand why that has happened. Any ideas?
Not off the top of my head… Any nutrient issues would surely affect the whole lot not just 4…
Sorry I can’t think of anything else to tell you. But I’d be interested in finding out, please let me know if you do discover the cause.
If there’s anything else I can help with don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Hi Steve,
Reference : GS Plant Foods Liquid Love All Purpose Natural Plant Food .
I’m about to start growing sweetcorn in a large plastic container for the first time and have been reading extensively about how best to do it. I have learned what NPK means but have had some frustration try to find a fertiliser that is ideal according to the recommendations of different experts when I need it later.
I am interested in this plant food above l.e. GS Liquid Love All Purpose.. Would this do to periodically feed my sweet corn plants as a fertiliser when they are ready later? – or should I also use some brand name fertiliser like ‘Tomorite’ tomato plant food (You mentioned it before). Would appreciate your opinion. Austin O’ Byrne
Hi Austin,
I have to be honest, I’ve never heard of this product before. It sounds good, but I can’t see any list of ingredients, it does say natural so it might be OK. My advice would be to give it a go, and let me know how you get on.
All the best
Steve