Double Red Sweet Corn

[Silverleaf]

Cool, thanks! I really wish I'd remembered to note who the seed came from, I usually do. I suspect you're a likely culprit though...

I was just attracted by the colour initially, but it sounds like it's going to be really interesting.

[clumsy]

How would you know if your sweet corn has crossed pollinated? Would you see it when you harvest or after you have sown and grown a year later.

[Silverleaf]

How would you know if your sweet corn has crossed pollinated? Would you see it when you harvest or after you have sown and grown a year later.

I think it kind of depends on what characteristics the "mother" plant has. Sometimes you can see straight away in the seeds when you harvest, like if you sow white corn but get some yellow kernels where your neighbour's yellow corn fertilised them.

[jayb]

Unlike other crops it is possible to see (taste) cross pollinated seeds with sweet corn in the current harvest. Seeds will show a different colour, or look different in shape, but you need to be growing quite different types for it to be apparent. If you are growing all yellow se varieties, then no real difference will be seen but if you grow a yellow supersweet sh2 alongside a white se variety then cross pollinated kernel differences should be apparent. Or that's my understanding, I'm no expert.

[Galina]

Corn is a bit unusual in this way because it has a see-through seed coat.

[clumsy]

I thought none germinated but after all the rain, only three plants but I'm a least happy just to see them growing. It really has made my day.

[Hector1]

Attractive plant!

[Galina]

Gosh Hector I am so envious. All my plants that were transplanted a month ago are still alive - just - but looking really tatty and almost shredded possibly by the last storm. They have not picked up at all. Yours look bonny.

[Hector1]

Galina, it's not mine....wish it was Agree, it's a really bonny looking plant. I'm also envious

[Galina]

Very sorry Clumsy! Read Hector's comment last and didn't proofread before sending.

[clumsy]

It's ok easily done.

[Galina]

Clumsy, mine are at last starting to look a bit more like yours. But the leaves are still shredded (wind I guess). And there are also only 3 plants still going. This is such a beautiful corn, but also definitely the most difficult corn I have ever grown. You can be so proud of your beautiful plants from last year, Jayb.

[clumsy]

I will try and take a picture of mine tomorrow, I think the progress is a bit slow.

[Hector1]

Those plants wouldn't look out of place in an ornamental border

[clumsy]

Here's an image taken this morning not the best.

[Galina]

Looks good and so attractive. MIL had to go to a specialist hospital in Leicester for a check up, Hector and I was amazed that they used this sweetcorn as part of their decorative planting. I am pretty sure it was Double Red as I cannot imagine a decoration plant that looks so much like it. When we go next time I'll see whether it has produced cobs! Unless they have changed the bedding scheme. Mine is not looking as lush as yours, Clumsy, but rather than red it has developed some black tassels. The leaves are green rather than red. Not many cobs and still very small, but as I had so few plants, they probably did not get pollinated sufficiently. Did you resow? There are more plants in the front? Or did they come up later? You can be proud of these. I don't think it is an easy corn to grow.

[clumsy]

Sweetcorn update.

[jayb]

Very nice, beautiful cobs.