Sweetcorn and baby sweetcorns questions

[acrylicspud]

Hello

I had 3 attempts at sowing sweetcorn this year, as I was unaware about how much the roots dislike being moved (so the first 2 early attemps failed) and I ended up sowing some straight into the soil. To my surprise they have actually produced small kernels!
I live in London and now worry that they won't be fully ripe before the weather turns bad. I just peeked and the sweetcorns are tiny.
I'm also wondering how I can tell if they would be ripe enough to use as the baby sweetcorns that you can buy in the supermarket?

All advice is very welcome, thank you!

[mandylew]

I think the baby sweetcorns are a different variety, if you have grown the ordinary kind, you will get cobs either with or without kernels depending on if they have ripened. I only picked mine last week and i'm in the north so i'm sure youve got time yet for a reasonable harvest.

[Jennifer]

Any small undeveloped cobs I use as baby sweetcorn. it is delicious. if they have grown a little sometimes the central core can be tough. Just eat around it. I picked some yesterday that had developed half of the kernels but not the rest. I wouldn't waste anything if possible. Cook one lightly and see what they taste like before you make a decision.
Regards,
Jennifer

[acrylicspud]

I tried some last night and it was really nice
The sweetcorn was abit bigger than I thought it looked, although they haven't all developed down the whole cob, but still very nice. It's tempting just to grow sweet corn next year!

[Colin_M]

I was unaware about how much the roots dislike being moved

Interesting point. I always start my sweetcorn off in Roottrainers, and plant them out when they're around 6-8 inches high. I've done this for the past 3 years and never had a problem with it.

It could be the Roottrainers enable less disruption than the method you used. Personally, I like starting the plants off indoors/greenhouse as it helps them get off to a good start.


Colin

[Angi]

I always start mine off in three inch pots and plant out when about 2-3 inches high, with bottle cloche protection.

[acrylicspud]

I was intending to use peat pots next year, as I though this would be safer. But do you think the root trainers are a better method?
Thanks