Minipop is an organically grown miniature sweet corn variety that produces a prolific amount of little, tender, organic and very sweet cobs. It is very well suited for the growing in pots, containers and in small gardens or square vegetable gardens. About 5-6 cobs grow on each plant. Harvest the cobs when they're about 10 cm in lenght and the silk tassels are just showing. Needs support.
Sweetcorn is a cereal that is also used as a vegetable. Sweetcorn is very healthy and versatile. It contains: vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B11, C and E. And the minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, potassium, copper, magnesium and zinc. Sweetcorn is also high in fibre, starch, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in calories. Sweetcorn can be boiled, baked, grilled in a grill pan or on a barbecue, steamed, prepared in the oven and used in salads. With dried sweetcorn kernels you can also make your own corn flour for e.g. tortillas. Sweetcorn can also be used in soups, stews, salads and, of course, in various Mexican dishes. If you want to grill your fresh home-grown corn on the barbecue, you don't need to remove the bracts, but for all other cooking purposes you do. Also, always remove the white threads and the bottom of the sweetcorn cob before further preparation. Sweetcorn is delicious with cheese, chicken, beef, lamb, pork, minced meat, flour, milk, rice, garlic, eggs, coriander, thyme, cayenne, paprika, onions, potatoes, tuna, salmon, shrimp, apple, pineapple, avocado and nuts. The sweet taste of sweetcorn also pairs well with various vegetables such as: peas, broccoli, celery, courgette, leeks, mushrooms, lettuce, peppers, spring onions, tomatoes and carrots. Non-hardy annual. Height: 150 - 180 cm.
Indoor sowing: April - May
Outdoor sowing: half May - June
Germination: 10 - 14 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 20 °C
Sowing depth.: 2 - 2½ cm
Outdoor planting: half May (after the Ice-Saints)
Plant distance: 35 - 45 cm
Planting position: full sun - sheltered
Harvest period: July - October
Sowing indoors, for an early harvest, is possible from April onwards. Use separate, deep, not too large pots filled with moist potting compost. Sow 1 seed per pot 2 - 2½ cm deep. Cover the seeds well with soil, as sweetcorn is a darkgerminator. The seeds already germinate at a minimum temperature of 10 °C, but a higher temperature ensures a faster and better germination. Keep the temperature as even as possible and don't let it drop at night. Keep well moist, but not too wet to prevent the seeds from rotting. Harden off your young seedlings from the beginning of May. Put them outside in the sun for about 10 - 14 days. You can put the young plants outdoors in a very sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil from the middle of May, as soon as there is no more chance of night frost. Put the plants close together in blocks to enable good pollination.
Sowing outside is possible from mid-May, as soon as there is no more chance of night frost. Sow the seeds approximately 35 - 45 cm apart and 2 - 2½ cm deep. Sow in blocks to enable good pollination of the plants. Provide a very sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Make sure your plants don't dry out.
Each sweetcorn plant produces one or two cobs, the ripeness of which can be tested as soon as the plumes turn a chocolate brown. The ripe kernels secrete a creamy liquid when squeezed. Sweetcorn requires a lot of heat and isn't at all resistant to frost. Don't put your plants outside until there is no chance of night frost. As sweetcorn plants can grow very tall, it is important that they are firmly planted in the ground. Ground your plants if necessary. If necessary, provide strong support, e.g. bamboo sticks. The seeds and cobs of sweetcorn are also very popular with rats, mice and birds.
