Growing Sweet Corn

Maize, Indian Corn or Corn-on-the-Cob as it is variously called first achieved popularity in Britain with the arrival of the American armies during the Second World War. The old strains, however, were unsuited to the climate and not until the hvbridisers were able to develop several varieties which would mature in the short summer of northern Europe, did sweet corn become a satisfactory crop. Even so, it requires a long, warm summer to grow well.

Sowing As it is necessary to allow the plants as long a season as possible, seed is sown in a warm greenhouse early in March or over a hot-bed in a frame. Sow one seed to a small pot containing John limes Seed Compost or sow in peat pots which are plunged into the hot-bed. The frame should be closed to retain the maximum of heat. The minimum of root disturbance is desirable for the plants should at no tinie suffer any check.

If cloches are available, plants may be set out about mid-May, otherwise early June is a suitable time. The main cause of failure is cold winds, so protection should be given by placing the cloches on their ends around the plants or by erecting polythene lights around the beds or on the side of the prevailing wind. If the plants can be started under cloches they will mature a month earlier than if not protected and, in a dull summer, it will make all the difference as to whether the cobs ripen or not.

Select a sunny situation and provide the plants with a rich soil. A light well drained soil containing plenty of humus is required. Sweet corn thrives on wool shoddy whilst used hops are of value. Decayed strawy manure is also suitable. The soil must be in good heart and not lacking in lime.

Pollination will play a part in determining planting distances, r inches between each plant proving suitable. Water well in and never allow the plants to lack moisture throughout summer or the cobs will fail to swell and will be tough and unpalatable. A weekly application of dilute manure water will assist the cobs to grow sweet and succulent whilst about mid-July, the plants will benefit from a mulch of decayed strawy manure.

Pollination Nature has no more wonderful way of pollinating. The plants produce the male flowers at the top of the tassel-like inflorescence whilst the female flowers, which produce the cob, develop from the leaf joints at the bottom of the plant, the silky tassels catching the pollen grains as they fall from the male flowers.

Though the plants should not be unduly cramped when set out, the closer they are planted, the better will be their pollination, so plant about 15 inches apart and allow the same distance from row to row. Preferably, plant in blocks or beds of four rows with a path down each side from which cultivations and picking may be done.

Where the plants have been grown in the open unprotected. the cobs will be ready towards the end of August but in a summer lacking in sunshine, a warm autumn may be necessary to ripen them. By then the stems will have grown 6 -7 feet tall and, to prevent them

front breaking it will be necessary to provide support by looping round them strong twine taken from one end of the row to the other. Or insert a tall cane to each stein.

The cobs are harvested as soon as fully ripe when the seeds are firm and juicy yet have not become hard. They are at their best eaten as soon as possible after removing. Take off the husks at once and, if it is necessary to keep them for a few days, place in a plastic bag in a cool room. To prepare, boil for 15-20 minutes, no longer and serve with white sauce or melted butter.

To display them, the cobs should have part of the husk removed but the silky threads at the end should be left intact. The rows of seeds should be well developed along the rows and this will occur only if correct pollination has taken place. The seed should be well developed but must not be hard. It must be of a uniform colour, either yellow or white, whilst the cob should be fresh and cylindrical.

Diseases

DAMPING our Should adverse weather cause delay in germination, there may be pre-emergence damping off of the seed and, to prevent this, seeds- men will, for small extra cost, dress the seed with Orthocide dust (containing 65 per cent Captan).