How to grow Sweetcorn (Minipops F1)

Zea mays

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

Sweetcorn Minipops F1 are easy to grow and produce 4-5 fabulous tasty baby sweetcorn per plant. These homegrown mini corns are sweeter, crunchier and so much tastier than shop bought. They are great in stir-fries, excellent steamed whole and also sweet enough to eat raw in salads! Pick cobs as soon as the silks emerge from the ears and the tassels darken, when they are about 10-13cm long. They can however be left to mature and can be used for popcorn!

At a glance: Sow late May to mid July, harvest from late August.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow outdoors

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Sweetcorn (Minipops F1): what it needs

Light: Full sun · 8+ hours a day
Watering: Every 1-2 days
Soil: Rich, well-draining, fertile · pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing: 25cm apart
In pots: Best in the ground
Feeding: Top dress soil with organic matter periodically or feed with a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks once established.
Harvest: About 75 days from sowing
Hardiness: USDA zones 3–10
Difficulty: Easy

Step by step

Late May – mid July · 6 weeks after the last spring frost
Direct Sow Sweetcorn Seeds Outdoors (optional)
Sow 2 seeds per station, 2.5cm deep, 25cm apart in rows 25cm apart, in a sunny spot sheltered from wind. Cover with a cloche to keep warm and aid germination. Water well.
6–14 days after “Sow Sweetcorn Seeds Indoors” · Early June – mid June
Check for Germination
Sweetcorn seedlings should emerge in 6-14 days. Ensure consistent warmth and moisture during this period.
7 days after “Transplant Sweetcorn Outdoors” · Mid June
Thin Outdoor Sweetcorn Seedlings (optional)
If you direct sowed 2 seeds per station and both germinated, remove the weaker seedling, leaving one strong plant per station. This task is skipped if you started indoors.
21 days after “Thin Outdoor Sweetcorn Seedlings” · Early July
Earth Up Sweetcorn Stems
Mound soil around the base of the stems in summer to give better anchorage. Sweetcorn is prone to toppling over as the corn grows.
14 days after “Earth Up Sweetcorn Stems” · Mid July
Maintain Watering and Feeding
Keep plants well-watered, especially during dry spells. Top dress soil with organic matter periodically to ensure a warm, fertile growing season.
45–120 days after “Maintain Watering and Feeding” · Late August – mid November
Harvest Sweetcorn Minipops
Pick cobs as soon as the silks emerge from the ears and the tassels darken, when they are about 10-13cm long. Harvest one to check before picking others. Be aware that mice love sweetcorn! Can be left to mature for popcorn.