How to Grow Your Own Organic Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is a favourite vegetable for many, as it’s one of nature’s sweetest (along with beetroot and carrots, you can even use this in dessert and cake recipes). Grown everywhere except Antarctica, sweetcorn loses half of its sweetness within 24 hours of harvest.
One ear of sweetcorn always has an even number of rows. And each strand connects to one kernel, as each silk must be pollinated for the specific kernel to grow. Isn’t nature wonderful?
What you need to grow organic sweetcorn
Sweetcorn does take a lot of water to grow, and also needs lots of space, rich soil and warm weather. This wind-pollinated crop must be planted in grids or blocks, spacing the seeds 12 inches apart and with 24 inches between rows.
Use good compost and a nitrigen-rich plant-based fertiliser when the plants reach knee-high and again when tassels appear. Sweetcorn also needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day (now you know why they grow well in Mexico more than England!)
- Read up on pet-friendly gardens for plants and mulches (like cocoa) to avoid
- Use humane non-toxic methods to deter slugs/snails
- For indoor plants and greenhouses, use Feather Friendly bird tape to stop birds flying into windows (avoid facing indoor plants to face gardens).
It’s important to avoid frost and ensure soil temperatures are at least 16°C (60°F). Cold, damp soil will rot organic corn seeds before they can germinate.
But along with sun, sweetcorn also needs around 1 inch of water each week, so add organic straw or shredded leaves at the base of stsalks, to lock in moisture and suppress weeds. Planting climbing beans next to corn helps to fix nitrogen in the soil.
Where to buy sustainable sweetcorn
If you can’t find sustainable sweetcorn plants locally, you can buy from Rocket Gardens. These do well in raised beds or traditional plots, including baby sweetcorn.
Ways to eat fresh organic sweetcorn
Sweetcorn should be avoided for diabetes, corn allergies and gastro conditions like ISB.
Corn kernels are choking hazards for pets, so keep them away. They should also never be fed to rabbits (and only very occasionally to guinea pigs if given, never daily).
- Boil the cobs and toss with vegan Flora butter, sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Mexican Street Corn: Mix warm cooked kernels with vegan mayo, lime juice, chilli powder and coriander.
- Smoky grilled corn: Brush cobs with oil, and grill until charred. Sprinkle with smoked paprika.
- Fresh corn salsa: Mix kernels with diced tomatoes, red onion, lime juice, coriander and jalapeno.
