For sweet corn that delivers on flavour and reliability, RHS Sweet Corn Goldcrest F1 Seeds by Mr Fothergills is a brilliant choice for the allotment or veg patch. This supersweet variety produces delicious, well filled cobs and is acclaimed for its consistent performance. Plants show remarkable resistance to wind damage and disease, making it a strong option for the UK growing season.
Goldcrest F1 is a vigorous grower that rewards you with plump, golden kernels and that classic sweet corn sweetness when harvested at the right time. For the best results, pick cobs when the silks have turned brown and dry, and the kernels release a milky sap when pressed. Sweet corn is at its finest cooked and eaten as fresh as possible, so it is ideal for summer meals straight from the garden.
You can start seeds indoors from March to May. Sow 1 seed per 7.5cm pot of seed compost and cover with 1.5cm of compost. Firm gently and keep moist, then cover with glass, polythene or a propagator lid. Keep at around 15°C and remove the cover once seedlings appear. Grow on in a bright spot, then gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions in late May, avoiding frosts.
When planting out, transplant 35cm apart in each direction and plant in squares or blocks rather than a single long row. This improves wind pollination and helps the cobs fill evenly. Keep plants well watered, particularly at flowering time, to support good cob development and sweet, juicy kernels.
You can also sow outdoors in May, directly into a prepared seed bed in the growing position. Sow 1 to 2 seeds together with 40cm between stations, cover with 1.5cm of fine soil, then firm gently and keep moist. Thin to 1 strong seedling per position once established.
Harvest is typically from August to October. A useful growing note, this variety is best grown isolated from sugary enhanced sweet corn types, as cross pollination can reduce eating quality.
Goldcrest F1 is part of the RHS seed range produced by Mr Fothergills in partnership with the RHS, and it is also a winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit for reliability and good performance.
