Sweetcorn

When to plant/sow in zone:

Requirements: Warm to hot conditions; full sun; protection from strong winds; rich and well-drained soil; water regularly when cobs start forming

Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost and/or well-rotted manure or organic pellets.

How to start: SEED: Sow direct in the ground (best) or in punnets. Sow 25mm deep, 30cm apart, in rows 60-70cm apart. Aim for a minimum of three rows. Sow two seeds per hole. Keep moist. Germinates in 5-15 days. SEEDLING: Plant in the ground when seedlings are 5-10cm+ tall. Remove the weakest seedlings from each group, using them to fill any gaps. Water in and apply straw mulch.

How to grow: Keep moist and mulch with straw. When plants reach 50cm high, hill soil and/or compost around the base. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly.

When to harvest: Start checking cobs for maturity from 11 weeks, when the silks turn brown. Peel back some of the protective husk and pierce a single kernel with your fingernail. If it releases a milky liquid, the cobs are ready. if it's clear, they need more time. Remove with a twist and a sharp movement downwards.

Troubleshooting: Aphids; slugs and snails; caterpillars; cutworm; possums, birds and rats