Getting sweetcorn to germinate

[Primrose]

I always seem to have problems getting it to germinate. In previous years my seeds have rotted in the compost because having tough skins, I thought they needed plenty of moisture. Last night I put some seeds in a little water, but not covering them to try and "kick start" them, but don't know if this was a sensible thing to do. Any tips please?

[FredFromOssett]

I sow my sweetcorn about 1cm deep in the ubiquitous loo rolls in multi purpose compost. I give them a good soaking from the bottom by putting them in a tray of water until the loo rolls have soaked up the water to their tops and the compost is moist to the top. I find that the loo rolls retain their moisture better if they are packed tight into a fairly deep container with drainage holes punched into the base rather than in seed trays. The empty Quality Street tin from Christmas that you don't want to throw away but don't know what to do with is perfect for this; it will hold about 15-20 tubes. They normally germinate extremely well like this, and subsequent watering is from a can. When ready, I plant the whole roll intact.

[Primrose]

Thanks Fred. I've now sown mine in some old peat pots I found and given the compost a good soak. What a good idea for the Quality Street tin. I've actually got one sitting around so I can transfer all my climbing beans in loo rolls into it - ideal for keeping them watered and ensuring they don't all fall over.

[Colin_M]

I always seem to have problems getting it to germinate.

What variety are you using?

I can't claim any expertise but I start mine off in Roottrainers and for the past 3 years every single seed has germinated & grown successfully. I now use "supersweet" varieties.

[penny]

I am a complete novice used swift in 3" pots and put them in a warm spot at home covered in black plastic. 15/16 are up. Penny

[heyjude]

The first time I grew sweetcorn (donkey's years ago) the instructions on the packet said to sow outside with 3 seeds per station and pull out any spares. As I had bought some variety of expensive F1 supersweet, that seemed an awful lot of wasted seed.

So I started them on wet kitchen paper and moved them to pots when they germinated in just the way that everybody is doing their parsnips. Pretty well all germinated, giving us 3 times as many plants as the seed merchant calculated!

I'm not planting them for another week or so but I'll probably do them in 3" pots, one in each, and plant out at the beginning of June.

[oldherbaceous]

Well i've tried something this year that i have heard about before but never tried.
Half filled a sealable plastic bag with damp compost, put the seeds in, gave it a shake then placed in the airing cupboard.
Three days later they had shot so potted them up, two days later they are popping through.

It all seems too easy.

[John]

I've had trouble sometimes with germinating sweetcorn. My answer is to avoid old seed and give them plenty of warmth in the early stages of germination. I don't start them too early because even round here they can't be planted out until the end of May at the earliest. Rootrainers are ideal because the young plants can be kept growing on, say in a frame, in these for a while if it is too cool to plant out.

John

[Primrose]

OH - that's a new one. I've heard of putting pots in the airing cupboard but not seeds in compost in a plastic bag, but I suppose it makes good sense as the seeds are pretty big and are easily spotted. I guess you could do it with courgettes too.
I've done most of my Spring sowing now, but will remember this and give it a try next time. Just hope you don't find you've got marrows growing amongst your sheets when you're due for a bed linen change!

[Johnboy]

Hi Primrose,
It is a very recognized method of germination but this is normally done with moist Vermiculite and the seeds mixed in then blow the polythene bag up like a balloon and tie it up then put into the airing cupboard.
This is very similar to propagating Lilies and other scaled bulbs when you coat the lily scales with yellow Sulphur then put into the moist vermiculite tie up and leave in the airing cupboard.
After a certain length of time Bulblets will form on the plate area of the scale.
I sow Sweetcorn by soaking for a couple of hours and growing in 42x 42x 50mm module tray holding 126.
I use a pencil to poke a hole then plant scar down, like Beans, and have never had any difficulty with germination. Generally only about 5-7days. This is done on the bench in the tunnel and no added heat whatsoever.
JB.

[Primrose]

Johnboy - you are a positive mine of useful information. I'm learning lots of new things here.

[PLUMPUDDING]

That is a good idea with the compost in polythene bag O.H. I find they germinate much quicker with a bit of heat, so that will keep them both moist and warm. I'm going to try it.

Last year I had to re-sow all mine as a mouse/rat ate every seed from some root-trainers. It had found its way in through the hole I had left in the greenhouse base so I could plant the grapevine's roots outside.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Primrose, i'll have the housekeeper informed to keep her eyes open as regards the bed linen.