Growing different varieties of sweetcorn

Hello all! I am growing 3 types of sweetcorn, and will plant them out in blocks of the same type. Can anyone tell me what the minimum distant apart of the blocks should be so they don't cross-pollinate, or is that only a problem if I intend to keep seed for next year?

Ta, Liz.

 

No, its definitely a problem with modern super-sweet varieties (despite what it may say on the packet to the contrary) as its the seed you eat, and that is likely to be effected by cross-pollination. They need to be a long way apart to be sure of preventing cross pollination - probably more than you would have in a normal plot.

You best bet would be to grow them in three batches, and then they won't have pollen at the same time - start with the one that has the shortest cropping time, and then sow at 2 week intervals. You need to be starting off the first batch now.