In My Seed Box For 2026 - Sweetcorn

   

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown between 2013 - 2019 have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 grown in 2021 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

In 2022 I attempted to grow Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 The germination rate was less that 40% and what did finally grow got hit by the rats with fluffy tails that run along the top of the wall that's built on my plot boundary.

A second planting of Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's in 2022 was tried, the germination rate was poor and then the rats with fluffy tails hit regardless of the pop bottles I had placed over the corns and I ended up with only 8 corns that were viable. this I though at the time was my worst year for sweetcorn ever, I didn't know what was coming. 

In 2023 I tried growing Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies & Sweet Corn Eden F1 - Suttons Germination rates were down again, but once again the rats with fluffy tails just beat us to some of the sweetcorn, but my harvests were as good as in previous good years but not as good as 2019 which was an exceptional year.

In 2024 due to my cancer treatments and recovery growing sweetcorn didn't happen and in 2025 I tried growing Moonshine F1 , but these didn't start off well in the potting shed and failed and died and didn't even make it being transplanted into the ground. 

in 2026 I will be growing Sweet Corn Pot Of Gold F1 - Suttons - 20 Seeds - Cost £4.99 - Item Code 10 02 99 - that was Packed year ending 2023 and has a Sow By date of 2026. 

I'm thinking of trying A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal if there is 100% germination, 18 hole works for a 90% germination rate. 

Planting Membrane for Sweetcorn 

I have 3 different planting membranes that can be used for sweet corn they are 18, 21 & 24 holes and look like this 

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2025 - Sweetcorn

 

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown between 2013 - 2019 have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 grown in 2021 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

In 2022 I attempted to grow Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 The germination rate was less that 40% and what did finally grow got hit by the rats with fluffy tails that run along the top of the wall that's built on my plot boundary.

A second planting of Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's in 2022 was tried, the germination rate was poor and then the rats with fluffy tails hit regardless of the pop bottles I had placed over the corns and I ended up with only 8 corns that were viable. Worst year for sweetcorn ever. 

In 2023 I tried growing Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies & Sweet Corn Eden F1 - Suttons Germination rates were down, but once again the rats with fluffy tails just beat us to some of the sweetcorn and our harvests were as good as in previous years.

I still have Sweet Corn Pot Of Gold F1 - Suttons - 20 Seeds - Cost £4.99 - Item Code 10 02 99 - that was Packed year ending 2023 and has a Sow By 2026 date. 

A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal if there is 100% germination, 18 hole works for a 90% germination rate.

I have been sent a new variety of sweetcorn from Suttons Seeds who have added the variety to its catalogue for 2025 called Sweet Start F1 - Average Pack 30 Seeds - 3.99  

Depending on the germination rate I can use 2 number 18 hole planting membrane sheets in two beds or one 24 sheet membrane in a single bed, if a germination rate of 80% achieved . 

Marshalls have kindly sent me a pack of their Mira Picnic F1 Sweetcorn seeds that are new for 2025 with a RRP of £3.99 for 20 seeds. 

Sow March to May and Harvest August to September. Succulent and sweet, it can be eaten raw as a tasty snack! Medium-sized cobs packed with supersweet kernels, great for the barbecue. Early-maturing variety. 

 

Planting Membrane for Sweetcorn 

I have 3 different planting membranes that can be used for sweet corn they are 18, 21 & 24 holes and look like this 

In My Seed Box for 2025 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2024 - Sweetcorn

  

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown between 2013 - 2019 have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 grown in 2021 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

In 2022 I attempted to grow Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 The germination rate was less that 40% and what did finally grow got hit by the rats with fluffy tails that run along the top of the wall that's built on my plot boundary.

A second planting of Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's in 2022 was tried, the germination rate was poor and then the rats with fluffy tails hit regardless of the pop bottles I had placed over the corns and I ended up with only 8 corns that were viable. Worst year for sweetcorn ever. 

In 2023 I tried growing Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies & Sweet Corn Eden F1 - Suttons Germination rates were down, but once again the rats with fluffy tails just beat us to some of the sweetcorn and our harvests were as good as in previous years.

I still have Sweet Corn Pot Of Gold F1 - Suttons - 20 Seeds - Cost £4.99 - Item Code 10 02 99 - that was Packed year ending 2023 and has a Sow By 2026 date. 

A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal if there is 100% germination, 18 hole works for a 90% germination rate. 

There are no seed companies adding new varieties to their catalogues this year for me to trial for free. The family made a decided to go for two beds of sweetcorn to try and get a better harvest as we now appear to have to share with our fluffy wildlife on the allotment. 

At the moment I have the beds together, so I can cover them with an ultrasonic pest defender, so I have purchased two packs of Swift F1 from Premier Seeds Direct. There are 45 seeds in a pack and they are selling them for £1.49 per pack. Dependant upon the germination rate I have the planting membrane below to accommodate 100% germination rate or less. 

Why buy two packs?, at that price I may as well just encase of a germination disaster like we have had in the last couple of years. If no disaster I have a pack for next year and can move the two beds further apart to prevent cross pollination between varieties.   

Dobies have sent me a pack of Popcorn Fiesta Average 40 seeds on a pack for £2.99 now I need to find somewhere to shoe horn these in this year or perhaps leave them until next year 

Planting Membrane for Sweetcorn 

I have 3 different planting membranes that can be used for sweet corn they are 18, 21 & 24 holes and look like this 

In My Seed Box for 2024 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Sweetcorn

 

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 grown in 2021 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

In 2022 I attempted to grow Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 The germination rate was less that 40% and what did finally grow got hit by the rats with fluffy tails that run along the top of the wall that's built on my plot boundary.

A second planting of Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's in 2022 was tried, the germination rate was poor and then the rats with fluffy tails hit regardless of the pop bottles I had placed over the corns and I ended up with only 8 corns that were viable. Worst year for sweetcorn ever. 

I have 3 different planting membranes that can be used for sweet corn they are 18, 21 & 24 holes and look like this 

Regardless of which two varieties I grow in 2023 I'm going to have to build cages to protect the sweet corns from the squirrels on and around the allotment site. 

Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies - Cost £2.49 - packed Year ending 2021 Sow By 2024

I could use the 24 hole planting sheet if I get 100% germination.  A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal and would allow for up to 84% Germination.

Sweet Corn Eden F1 - Suttons - 20 Seeds - Cost £ 4.49 - Item Code 10 03 00 - Packed year ending 2022 - Sow By 2025

A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal if there is 100% germination, 18 hole works for a 90% germination rate. 

Sweet Corn Pot Of Gold F1 - Suttons - 20 Seeds - Cost £4.99 - Item Code 10 02 99 - Packed year ending 2023 - Sow By 2026 

A 21 hole planting sheet would be ideal if there is 100% germination, 18 hole works for a 90% germination rate.  

I'm Planning to have two beds of Sweetcorn  illusion F1 & Eden F1, one on Plot 1 and the other on Plot 1A because I have two different varieties growing, and don't want any cross pollination problems. 

In My Seed Box for 2023 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2022 - Sweetcorn

 

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

In 2022 I grew Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 I didn't manage to harvest sweetcorn as the squirrels hit the beds and stripped the lot! Thus, I can't give a verdict on how good or otherwise they were.

Planting membrane used for sweetcorn depending on the number of germinated sweetcorn plants I manage to raise. 

I did manage to get a second bed of Sweetcorn Picasso F1 - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's - Costs £2.95 (last year) but again with bad germination and a squirrel attack I only ended up with eight cobs to harvest.   

New in 2021 and still in my Seed Box from last year Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies - Cost £2.99 packed end of 2021

 

New! for 2023 Code 100300 - Eden F1 - Suttons 20 Seeds - £4.49 Sow by 2025 Packed year ending 2022

Sweetcorn 'Eden' is a fantastically flavoured variety producing super-sweet creamy white cobs that make the perfect snack when plucked straight from the plant! Borne on vigorous plants, the crisp, juicy cobs grow to 18-20cm long and are protected by a tight husk. Height: 190cm (6ft). Spread: 40cm (16in).

Sweetcorn 'Eden' F1 is a fantastically flavoured variety producing super-sweet creamy white cobs that make the perfect snack when plucked straight from the plant! 

Eden F1 reaches 1.9m (6'3" feet) with a spread of 400mm (16 inches) 

New! for 2023 Code 100299 - Pot of Gold F1 - Suttons 20 Seeds - £4.49 Sow by 2026 Packed year ending 2023

Sweetcorn ‘Pot of Gold’ is a dwarf variety reaching only 1.5m tall! This makes it the perfect choice for exposed sites or growing in large containers. The bicolored yellow and white cobs are deliciously sweet and tender and are the perfect size to fit in the pan whole! Height: 1.5m (5ft). Spread: 30cm (12in).

Sweetcorn ‘Pot of Gold’ is a dwarf variety growing to only 1.5m tall, making it the perfect choice for exposed sites or large containers. This will mean that I will not have to build such a high enclosure or cage to keep the squirrels away from them.

In 2023 I have two beds planned as far away from each other because I will have two different varieties growing and don't want any cross pollination to occur. I also need to find a way to keep the squirrels away and off the sweetcorn once it gets near to being ready for harvest because the pesky things know when they are ripe and will strip the lot!

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Index

Silicon & Weeds

With Kelly being away next weekend, my possibility of getting down on the allotment for any significant time is really remote, as Jen is still struggling with the weakness that covid brought to her muscles and breathing.

So with Kelly working from home on a Monday, I took advantage of a couple of hours on the plot this afternoon between 2:30 - 5:15 watering with low water pressure as quite a few people had the same idea.

14 Sweetcorn Moonshine F1 - Marshalls of the 45 seeds germinated so far, I topped up the gravel tray with half an inch of water in Greenhouse 1, as it could be some time before I get back down to water. 

I spent some time clearing the floor space in Shed 1 so I can get to the planting membrane in the chest of drawers. I need to check how many planting sheets I have and in particular do I have a 105 hole planting membrane spare or do I need to make a new one.

During the clean up I found some clear silicon, and cleared the plastic tube of solid matter, so I could use it.

Once the T&G timbers on the shed shrink in the sun and dry conditions, and the joints open up, and the edges of the planking curl outwards it means that the planks T&G will never re engage even when they get and wet and saturated again. 

I used the clear silicon I found on the open joints in the T&G cladding that will let rain get into the shed, and finished the tube off on some of the panels of the greenhouse, which is what I bought the silicon for in the first place, following the winds in Jan/Feb that blew a few perspex/ polycarbonate panels out. 

The paths and beds to the Raspberries were very weedy, and there was a lot of mares tail in them. I managed to clear 3 of the four beds and paths the first path with the rubber matting didn't get cleared in todays visit and is a job for a future visit. 

The water pressure was extremely low, but I placed the sprinkler on the edge of the asparagus bed so that it would water the asparagus and the early spring Raspberries, which is one reason I didn't weed the path between or the asparagus bed this visit, again that's a job for a future visit.

Note to self

Buy some Red Cedar wood paint and touch the sheds up before the heatwave hits.

Sweetcorn Moonshine F1 Marshalls

 

Four number 15 cell Containerwise modules filled with compost and left in the sun to warm up before 44 Sweetcorn Moonshine F1 - Marshalls seeds sown and placed in the Space Saver Greenhouse with Propagator lids on.

Tomatoes sown a few days ago brought into the house as not germinating in the unheated greenhouse, and I suspect it's because of the low night time temperatures.

5 Vilmer tomatoes from the Joe Mills Grow With Me 2022 potted up into 127mm 5" pots.

2 Shorter Vilmer tomatoes on the shelf

3 Taller Vilmer tomatoes on the floor to the Space Saver Greenhouse.

Sweetcorn Planting Membrane

 

Today I was thinking about which sweetcorn to grow as I have 3 varieties in my seed box at the moment. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn in 2019 were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 were good in 2021 but not as good as Alliance. 

This year I'm going to trial the Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 and hope they produce as good if not better than the Alliance F1 Hybrid, only time will tell. 

With the Marshalls Moonshine having a huge 50 seeds per pack, I actually have enough seeds for two beds of 18 plant = 36 plants and thus only need a 72% Germination rate. 

However if I made two planting sheets like this 

Potato membrane used for sweetcorn last year 9 x 3 holes = 27 planting locations  

Knowing I will not get 100% germination I could have two beds of the Marshalls seeds and hope for 96% Germination, I can always put something else in the corner of a bed if I get worse germination rate.  Or go for a 24 hole sheet and a 21 hole planting sheet. 

 

New! Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's - Costs £2.95 

Two number 3 x 6 = 18 hole sheets would give 36 planting holes, however one never gets 100% germination.

New! Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies - Cost £2.99

A planting sheet like this 21 hole version would be ideal and would allow for 84% Germination, in the unlikely event of near 100% germination I could use the 24 hole planting sheet.  

If possible I like to have two beds of sweetcorn. I'm always up for trying out new varieties, But I think what I have found is that I need to make a 24 hole and a 21 hole planting sheet to cover all the bases.  

At the moment I have two beds planned as far away from each other because I thought I may have two different varieties growing, however if I go for Marshalls Moonshine I can place the beds next to each other which will be better for pollination.  

Marshalls        50 seeds £2.99

Mr Fothergill's 35 seeds £2.95

Dobies            25 seeds £2.99 

When one looks at the cost and number of seeds per pack Marshalls wins hand down for value for money per seed. It will be interesting to see how the Dobies & Mr Fothergills seeds measure up once they have been grown. 

In My Seed Box For 2022 - Sweetcorn

My daughter Kelly declared early on in my ownership of an allotment that all sweetcorn grown was hers. Historically we have had some great harvests and the two types of corn that I have grown have been Swift and Lark F1. 2017 was extremely disappointing but it would appear that most people in the UK had a bad year with their Sweetcorn. 

In 2019 Marshalls sent me two different varieties to trial which were Alliance F1 and Tyson F1 again due to the leg injury I didn't get the infrastructure in to trial both varieties in 2019. 

The results with Marshalls Alliance F1 Hybrid Sweetcorn were nothing more than spectacular (see photos of harvest here) and I have to say they were the best Sweetcorn that I have grown to date, Tyson F1 were good but not as good as Alliance. 

This year I'm going to trial the Marshalls Moonshine F1 - 50 Seeds - £2.99 - packed year ending 03/21 and best before date 09/2022 and hope they produce as good if not better than the Alliance F1 Hybrid, only time will tell. 

With the Marshalls Moonshine having a huge 50 seeds per pack, I actually have enough seeds for two beds of 18 plant = 36 plants and thus only need a 72% Germination rate. 

However if I made two planting sheets like this 

Knowing I will not get 100% germination I could have two beds of the Marshalls seeds and hope for 96% Germination, I can always put something else in the corner of a bed if I get worse germination rate.  Or go for a 24 hole sheet and a 21 hole planting sheet. 

 

New! Sweetcorn Picasso F1  - 35 Seeds - a New Variety to Mr Fothergill's - Costs £2.95 

Two number 3 x 6 = 18 hole sheets would give 36 planting holes, however one never gets 100% germination.

New! Sweet Corn Illusion F1 - 25 Seeds - a new variety from Dobies - Cost £2.99

A planting sheet like this 21 hole version would be ideal and would allow for 84% Germination, in the unlikely event of near 100% germination I could use the 24 hole planting sheet.  

If possible I like to have two beds of sweetcorn. I'm always up for trying out new varieties, But I think what I have found is that I need to make a 24 hole and a 21 hole planting sheet to cover all the bases.  

At the moment I have two beds planned as far away from each other because I thought I may have two different varieties growing, however if I go for Marshalls Moonshine I can place the beds next to each other which will be better for pollination.   

In My Seed Box For 2022 - Index