AllotMe
GROWING GUIDES
Sweetcorn
Vegetables
Moderate
Companion Plants:
Planting Schedule
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow indoors in April, one seed per 8cm pot, 3cm deep. Keep warm at 18-21°C.
Outdoors
Plant out in late May or early June once all risk of frost has passed. Sweetcorn is wind-pollinated so plant in blocks, not rows.
Harvest
Ready when the tassels on the cobs turn brown. Test by peeling back the husk and pressing a kernel — if milky liquid comes out, it's ready.
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
How to Sow
- Plant in blocks of at least 4x4 for proper wind pollination, not single rows
- Space plants 45cm apart each way
- Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered spot
- Harden off indoor-raised plants for a week before planting out
- Add well-rotted compost to the planting site beforehand
Plant Care
- Water well in dry weather, especially when cobs are forming and the tassels appear
- Earth up soil around the base of stems to support the tall plants
- Tap the tassels to help distribute pollen on still days
- Remove any side shoots that appear
- Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
AllotMe’s Tips
- Cook sweetcorn within 30 minutes of picking for the best flavour — the sugars start converting to starch immediately
- The 'Three Sisters' method — growing sweetcorn with beans and squash together — is a brilliant companion planting technique
- Supersweet varieties like 'Swift' are the best for UK conditions
Companion Plants:
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