Zea mays 'Sparrow'

RHS Plant Profile
sweet corn 'Sparrow'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Zea mays 'Sparrow'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
sweet corn 'Sparrow' Michael John Day
Annual Biennial

A fast-growing annual which produces tender, well-filled kernels of yellow corn-on-the-cob. The plants grow to 1 - 1.5m with sword-shaped green leaves up the stem. The cobs form from female flowers in the axils of the lower leaves, whilst the male flowers form at the top. The cobs are ready to harvest August-September

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
A genus of five, large, flowering plants the grass family. The most important species, Zea mays is widely cultivated food crop. Male flowers are borne in large, terminal inflorescences (tassels) and female flowers are hidden in clusters in the leaf axils
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a warm sheltered spot in a block rather than as a row, to improve pollination by the wind. Water regularly. For more advice, see sweetcorn cultivation.

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Edible fruit

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to seeds being eaten by mice and seedlings pulled up by pigeons

Diseases

Generally disease-free