Gardeners urged to sow one fruit now or miss crucial date

If you’re trying to grow your own food garden in time for , experts recommend planting this one delicious . Although, be warned, if you don’t plant it now it will soon become too late.

There are many advantages to growing your own and veg at home. It cuts down on expenditure, supermarket treks and it gets you outdoors. Even better, there’s a large sense of reward that comes from chowing down on food you’ve grown yourself.

The only difficult part is knowing exactly what to grow. Many fruits and vegetables require special kinds of care and need to be grown at specific times of the year. Late spring is often too late to sow many plants.

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Luckily, experts say that May is a great time to plant sweetcorn. advises: “Sow sweetcorn in deep pots, so the young plants are ready to transplant into the garden in June.”

Sweetcorn can be grown in plant pots or modules in late spring. Make sure that the plant pots are filled with nutrient-rich quality compost, which includes well-rotted garden compost.

It’s also advisable to give each seed its own pot so that they can grow properly. You should water them thoroughly, before placing them on a sunny windowsill to germinate. You can also place them in a greenhouse.

Once June comes, you should then transfer them outdoors. Make sure that you plant them in nutrient-rich, moist soil that receives plenty of sunlight.

Sweetcorn is native to central Mexico, which is known for its hot, dry temperatures. That’s why keeping them in a sunny spot is important, as cobs are unlikely to ripen if they’re not in full sun.

Equally, make sure that they are in a well-sheltered spot protected from strong winds. Blustery draughts can loosen their roots and ultimately hinder their growth.

Sweetcorn can take anywhere from two to four months to full ripen after the first frost has passed. Each sweetcorn plant typically produces around one to two cobs.

You will know that your sweetcorn is ready to be harvested once the tassels turn brown and once the sweetcorn leaks a milky liquid if pressed. Simply twist the cobs to remove them.

Although be warned – it’s best to eat sweetcorn soon after it’s picked. This is because, over time, its sweetness declines, leaving you with a less flavourful vegetable.