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General Information	Sweetcorn Troubles
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Sweetcorn
Sowing Time	Planting Time	Soil	Spacing	Cutting / Lifting Time	Storage	Cooking
Sweetcorn picked straight from the garden and eaten within the hour tastes so much better than shop bought sweetcorn as the sugar doesn't have time to turn into starch. Seed can be sown in the greenhouse in April and put out into the garden once the risk of frost has passed. Sow in peat pots to avoid root disturbance. Sweetcorn must be sown in blocks (not rows) to ensure successful wind pollination. Protect seedlings with black cotton if birds are a problem. Cover any roots which may appear at the base of stems. Water well in dry weather. Each plant produces 1-2 cobs. When the silks have turned brown pull back part of the sheath and squeeze a couple of grains. If a creamy liquid appears they are ripe. Pick just prior to cooking.
Late April indoors or mid May outdoors until mid June	Transplant late May/early June	A well drained, humus rich soil is required, slightly acid, reasonably fertile and deep. The site must be in full sun and sheltered from wind.	Sow two seeds 18ins apart and remove the weaker seedling. Leave 18in between rows.	Late July to early October	Sweetcorn will keep in the fridge for three days. To freeze; blanch cobs for 4-6 mins, cool, drain and wrap in foil before freezing.	Place cobs in a pan of boiling, salted water for 5-8 mins.

Sweetcorn Troubles
Trouble	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention
Frit Fly	The maggots bore into the growing points. Growth is stunted and small cobs produced.	None	Use seed dressed with insecticide or dust seedlings
Smut	Small balls (galls) appear on the cobs and stalks in hot, dry weather.	Cut off and burn the galls as soon as they appear.	Burn plants after harvest. Do not grow sweetcorn on the same site for three years.

General Information	Sweetcorn Troubles
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