The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: suziequeue on April 02, 2010, 07:41:19 pm

Title: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: suziequeue on April 02, 2010, 07:41:19 pm

Well - about two weeks ago we put a load of seeds into little containers indoors to germinate them. Some of them started quickly (one particularly keen broccolli seed within 24hrs!!) most other things a little more slowly but not a PEEP out of the corn. javascript:void(0);

All the others have produced at least something

Any suggestions or am I just being too impatient

Susanna

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: Rosemary on April 02, 2010, 09:55:21 pm

We won't sow ours for a week or two yet so maybe patience is the key.

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: suziequeue on April 03, 2010, 12:14:07 pm

Oh right. Thanks. 

We have them in the airing cupboard and as each one germinates we take them out onto the windowsill.

I notice that one corn has germinated so I shall be patient for the rest.

Susanna

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: suziequeue on April 14, 2010, 04:21:55 pm

Well - still NO SIGN of any more sweetcorn.

We took them out of the airing cupboard and opened up the soil a bit so that they could see the light but... nothing!!

Are the seeds supposed to look like someone's sat on them and then left them under the sofa all winter?

:-(

Susanna

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: Rosemary on April 14, 2010, 06:24:02 pm

Why did you have them in the airing cupboard? We just put ours in the greenhouse in pots...

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: little blue on April 14, 2010, 07:23:17 pm

Quote from: suziequeue on April 14, 2010, 04:21:55 pm

Well - still NO SIGN of any more sweetcorn.
Are the seeds supposed to look like someone's sat on them and then left them under the sofa all winter?

Yes!
And imho, its just too blooming COLD still to get something like sweetcorn going yet!
be patient, keep it warm, damp and bright and good luck

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: suziequeue on April 15, 2010, 08:57:08 pm

The airing cupboard idea came from my brother in law - presumably from experience he has had with other plants germinating in a darkened cupboard javascript:void(0);.... out of sight......

It worked a TREAT for the tomatoes and everything else but we have taken the sweetcorn out now - back onto the windowsill and into the light.

So - I'll keep going with them.

Thanks

Susanna

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: Sylvia on April 24, 2010, 04:31:26 pm

You may have killed them through kindness! Hot and damp= mould. Try again on a sunny windowsill.

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: little blue on April 24, 2010, 08:51:01 pm

the majority of seeds need light to germinate... if they are in the dark, they may just sit there waiting...

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: suziequeue on April 28, 2010, 07:32:28 pm

Yes - have had them out on the windowsill for about three weeks now and nothing - I think they have well and truly gone.

Is there time to germinate more do you think?

S

Title: Re: Recalcitrant sweetcorn seeds
Post by: little blue on April 28, 2010, 10:04:07 pm

yes, I only managed to get mine in the greenhouse last weekend
we're still getting frosty nights so I'm not worried its too late really