Sweetcorn Notes

Date	Variety	Germination
2021	Swift F1	Patchy, slow
2022	Swift F1	Patchy, slow
2023	Incredible F1	Good
15 Apr 2024	Tyson F1	Decent

Swift F1

3.7 out of 10

Both attempts at growing Swift have been unsuccessful in my garden, mostly due to the mis-timing that appears to happen during pollination. Both attempts at growing what is often seen as this most reliable variety have resulted in the male flowers appearing a number of weeks before the silks emerge, therefore resulting in there being no male flowers available for pollination. One years growing Swift, we’ve only managed to harvest one or two cobs of corn, each with only a third of the kernels present.

Germination

5 out of 10

Pollination

2 out of 10

Growth

4 out of 10

Incredible F1

8 out of 10

In 2023 we had possibly the worst weather for growing sweetcorn, and many crops failed, but our Incredible variety seed did wonderfully. The germination was good, though not excellent. I ended up sowing two full packs of seed to be on the safe side. The Pollination and timing were excellent. Despite the rain hitting at exactly the same time as the corn should have been pollinating, both the male and female flowers arrived simultaneously and did its job well. Growth on the cobs was good, with great sized, good cobs, full of kernels with none missing.

Germination

7 out of 10

Pollination

9 out of 10

Growth

8 out of 10

Sweetcorn Diary

April, Week 3

I picked up some more Incredible variety sweetcorn from Wilkos (at The Range) for £1.50 a packet. I picked up two as I wanted to be sure enough germinated for a decent block planting. When I came to soak the seeds to pre-sprout them, I noticed I had two packs of Tyson seeds in my seed box, that I must have picked up at some point last year, though I cannot remember when or where from. I’ve decided to keep the Incredible seeds for next year and to give Tyson a go. I’ve soaked the seeds for a few hours and then placed them in some damp paper towels sealed in a bag, in the airing cupboard in the hope that I can pre-sprout them.

April, Week 4

After five days pre-sprouting in wet paper towels, a good number of the Tyson seeds have germinated, so I’ve sown them into modules to start them growing.