Sweetcorn Plant 'Earlibird'

One of the best benefits of growing your own sweetcorn is being able to enjoy its peak flavour and sweetness when freshly harvested. Whether you choose to sow the seeds indoors or buy young plants, sweetcorn thrives in warm, sunny locations to ensure the cobs ripen during the summer.

Preparing the ground:To successfully grow sweetcorn, choose a warm and sheltered site with fertile soil, protected from strong winds. Remove weeds and add garden compost or manure before planting. Consider using a potassium fertilizer for optimal growth.

Planting Out: In late May or early June, plant indoor-sown and newly bought plants outside after the risk of frost has passed. Sweetcorn is wind pollinated, so planting in a group of plants rather than a long row can increase pollination success. To ensure successful pollination or new plant breeding, flowers can also be pollinated by hand. When growing baby corn, make sure to keep male and female flowers separate.

Avoid planting 'supersweet' varieties near standard sweetcorn to maintain their sweetness.

Sweetcorn Seedlings: Our large seedlings have been grown in individual plugs with established root systems and their first true leaves appearing. Ready to be planted in their final position, no need to harden off or grown on.

Garden Ready: Supplied in trays of 12, these plants give you our most mature plug size, they are quick to establish and are available all season long. Simply ease the individual plugs out by pushing the base of the tray to release the plant. Ready to plant out with no need to pot on or harden off.

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Soil must be well-drained and moist for sweetcorn to thrive. Prepare the soil before planting by adding manure, compost, or soil improver for better nutrients and organic matter.