Can I grow sweetcorn without a greenhouse?

**Atta** · 28-03-2019, 04:40 PM

I am going to start my sweetcorn at home.Its first time I am going to grow it.

**Nicos** · 28-03-2019, 04:43 PM

Yes, indeed you can!

Not sure which are the best varieties, but there are quite a few which do well in the north of the uk...so you should be fine where you are.

Welcome to the Vine by the way!

**Chrissyteacup** · 28-03-2019, 05:02 PM

Welcome to the vine it’s going to be my first year growing it too!

**Jungle Jane** · 28-03-2019, 05:42 PM

I grow mine outside the wind helps pollinate them,ovation are a good variety but I couldn’t find them this year again,I’m trying a different variety called incredible,sounds like it should be alright. You could also have a look at the rhs agm lists,then check out reviews of them then choose. Welcome to the vine & congrats in you new house!

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/a...vegetables.pdf

**Bluenowhere** · 28-03-2019, 05:52 PM

Yes sweetcorn definitely an outside crop. I’ll dig out my seeds later and let you know what variety I grow as it’s been great the last two years.

**Chestnut** · 28-03-2019, 06:26 PM

Yes, you can definitely grow sweetcorn outside. In fact, they do better outdoors because they rely on wind for pollination (which is why you’re supposed to plant them in a block rather than a single straight row).

I am much farther north, and had my first attempt at growing sweetcorn last year. I opted for a baby corn variety because OH won’t eat proper full size cobs, and got a reasonable harvest. They are so much better home grown than shop bought ;-)

**greenishfing** · 28-03-2019, 06:30 PM

I am up in sunny Yorkshire and I grow lark outdoors every year. I start them off on the windowsill about 5 weeks before I expect my last frost. I then plant them out. I have never (touch wood) had a bad crop. Homegrown sweetcorn is one of life's luxuries ..................a real treat.

**burnie** · 28-03-2019, 06:31 PM

It seems that the warmer the better as far as Sweetcorn goes, I have grown it outside in NE Scotland, but only once, I always grow mine under glass.

**It never rains..it pours** · 28-03-2019, 07:59 PM

Grow them outside here so you definatly can, but like Greenishfing, I start them off in pots indoors. Last year for instance planted in pots 03/03/18 and planted out 06/05/18. Think that was plenty early enough so have planted pots later 16/03/19 this year. I grow early maturity varieties as safer for us northerners and so far they have done well

**Mudsweatandtea** · 29-03-2019, 10:29 AM

I container grow some outside, best crop I had was last year (I think the variety was "northern xtra sweet"). Choose varieties that are designed for our climate. There are open pollinated types suitable for this if that's a criteria. It's better outside as you get better wind pollination and is quite sizeable.

**Baldy** · 29-03-2019, 10:35 AM

I've tried a few different ones - "swift" this year - I tend to go for super-sweet and varieties that don't hang about

Start them off on a sunny windowsill perhaps - they probably will get going if sown outdoors somewhere sheltered too (might be a little cold overnight to do that at the moment though)
Don't know why but I'm always a little amazed that I can grow sweetcorn in the UK

Welcome along...

**1Bee** · 29-03-2019, 11:00 AM

I've cropped sweetcorn for the last two years up here outside.

I grow Swift, and follow the instructions here:-

https://www.allotment-garden.org/veg...tcorn-growing/

I mulch with grass clippings, which keeps the weeds down, the moisture in and provides nitrogen which, as essentially a grass, the sweetcorn needs.

**lucylemon** · 29-03-2019, 12:37 PM

Thank you so much for the advice and welcome! I'm definitely feeling v encouraged to give sweetcorn a go - will have a look at some seeds/plants this weekend. Can't wait to get to eat my own :-D

**MarkPelican** · 29-03-2019, 04:30 PM

I only grow them outside. Grow Super-Sweet varieties. I chitted my seeds this week. I always chit them because that way you know which seeds are viable rather than sowing multiple seeds in a pot. Grow only one variety in a block (if you grow more, unless you separate them by a fair distance apparently they can cross-pollinate and they won't produce such a good crop - not that I've ever been able to prove or disprove this).

Fantastic crop both fresh and in the freezer.

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