Growing Sweetcorn in Containers.
Growing sweetcorn in troughs can produce large cobs, if the containers are deep enough. The tubs should be at least 18inches deep, to allow the sweetcorn roots to develop. The troughs must have holes at the bottom, to allow water to drain away.
A 5 inch layer of Farm Yard Manure, at the bottom of the trough, gives the roots something to go down into. Cover the manure with compost. Vermiculite and sand can be mixed with the compost, so that the trough is filled with a light, free draining growing medium.
Choose an early variety of sweetcorn and start the plants off under glass. Plant them out when the weather is sure to remain warm.
Keep the Sweet corn well watered. It is important that the soil does not dry out between watering, so in a dry period the corn needs more frequent watering. Once the tassels appear, the sweetcorn needs at least one inch of water per week.
The advantage of growing sweetcorn in containers is that the pot can often be tucked into a sheltered suntrap.
Click the link for more information on growing sweet corn in the vegetable garden
& why sweetcorn grown in the vegetable garden is sometimes small & shrivelled .
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Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » Why Sweetcorn in the Vegetable Garden is Small & Shrivelled? - October 24, 2007 5:48 am
I’ve tried them in grow bags and they were rubbish. Probably not deep enough, as you say. You should also be sure to plant sweetcorn in blocks, not rows, as they are pollinated by wind not insects so if they are in rows, the chances are the wind will blow the pollen away. If you plant them in blocks there’s a much better chance of pollination occurring.
Comment by Mel Rimmer - October 25, 2007 12:55 pm
Thanks Mel- that is an important point.
Also, they should not be close to another variety - particularly a cattle-feed variety, as they are very likely to cross pollinate & produce a poor tasting cob.
Thanks for your comment
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 25, 2007 2:40 pm
Hi TopVeg
We will have to read this carefully. You know our attempt at sweetcorn was very poor this year, so any hints are welcome.
Comment by Familynatters - October 28, 2007 8:22 pm