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Sweetcorn - The boys are ready - where are the girls?

Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
in Fruit & veg
I've not grown sweetcorn before but after tasting a freshly picked cob from my neighbour last year I'm having a go this year and I'm growing Swift.
The plants have grown well, and over the last few days the male flowers have appeared at the tops of the plants, but there seems to be only 1 cob between the lot of them (bottom left plant).
Is this normal? will more cobs come along?

Many thanks
(time for an ice lolly)


Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,690
    That was my problem last year. Beautiful male flowers no female. Then weeks later female hardly any pollen left. Right succession planting two weeks apart this year. What happens some fat pigeon sat on all the little ones so all the same stage again this year ,can you store pollen to use later, is that possible? 🤔
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,737
    The girls will come along, don't worry ... I grew Swift the year before last and the male flowers appeared much earlier than the females but they did show up and we had two or three cobs per plant ... delicious.  The only reason I didn't grow them last year was because I broke my foot.  We're growing them again this year, but yours are ahead of ours.  We've not got any flowers yet but I didn't sow very early 'cos of our holiday in May.  
    Just remember that they're very thirsty plants   :)
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,690
    I had one cob per plant and not all the kernels developed in those because of the time gap.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,737
    That might have been because they were too dry ... cobs need plenty of water to develop.
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
    Thank you both very much - I've just been down there and gave them a good soaking.
    That's a relief to hear Dove, I did just notice some more 'silks' popping out from the same plant that has a cob already.

    I just picked and ate a few rasps from the canes and had a few blueberries then spent an hour sat in my shadey arbour with a book and a cuppa and watched the goings on in my w/life pond - makes it all worthwhile :)

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,737
    Sounds just the ticket Pete ... I've just been out there laying on my tum watching frogs ,newts, snails and dragonfly nymphs doing what they do ... but it felt as if my jeans were scorching so I'm back indoors now  :)
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
    That's the best way to do it Dove - laying on your tum and burning your bum :)
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
    Update - 3 days ago there was just a single cob forming on one plant.
    Today there are 11 !! :) With one plant having 5 cobs!

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,690
    Well done Pete. Mine are as yet only a foot tall not even a male flower yet but they are growing.😁
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
    Thanks purpleallim - just hope I can keep the watering up!
    Good luck with yours too
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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