Sweetcorn

I believe I read in an earlier thread that sweetcorn is often sown in long cardboard or paper tubes ..
Would sowing in 3.5in pots suit or are they not considered deep enough ?

Dave

 

The Garden centre sells them in tiny module cells! I'm not sure they are as fussy about lack of root disturbance as is made out.

However, I grow mine in newspaper pots that are 2" / 2.5" diameter and 6" - 7" tall and I get excellent results, so I can definitely recommend that.

Tabloid. Open up a double page, fold in half top-edge-to-bottom (so its about 7" - 8" wide). Wrap that around a spray can (of about 2" - 2.5" diameter) so about an inch sticks out below the bottom of the can, and tuck that under the can, then slide the paper "pot" off. I stand them in a seed tray - pushed together to make them fit the tray tightly (which you can;t do with 3" plastic pots, they never fit well in a seed tray!)

http://kgarden.wordpress.com/tips/how-to-make-pots-from-newspaper/

no need to save up loo and kitchen-paper rolls

The newspaper last surprising long, and the roots will grow through. Tear off the top inch or so of paper when you plant - if it sticks up above the soil it will act as a wick and dry out the paper that is underground.

I ought to try growing a couple in 3" plastic pots alongside to see if it makes any difference at all though.

 

Thanks Kristen..
My first time with sweetcorn so will follow your tip .I will try 3/4 in 3.5in pots and see if there is a difference.

Dave

 

I've sown mine in those coir/peat pots that can be planted straight in to the ground; as I do with my tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and pumpkins.

I have been collecting toilet tubes though to try next year and may well try the news paper too, it will be cheaper than buying the coir/peat pots; which in all honesty are very cheap anyway, but every little helps.

 

In the past I found that peat pots are quite a barrier to roots - they take a while to rot down - whereas damp newspaper, once its in the ground, is no barrier at all!

But I haven't used Coir pots

Newspaper pots don't take long to make, and I have never run out of them yet :thumb:

 

thanks for sharing. im going to give that a try. plus how do you water them. using the paper pots.

 

I water from the top - I've not had the courage to try standing them in a tray of water to give them a drink!

I use a watering can with a slow spout, and just pour some water into each "pot", but a rose would probably do just as well.

 

thanks kristen, mine are in seed trays at the mo, could i transplant them today in to some of these paper pots, ( i got kids to make them,) or are they fussy about repotting

 

Yes, transplant them into pots. They won't be happy in the seed trays, and I don't think they will mind being transplanted if they have just germinated - they'll only have a single root + shoot at that stage.