Forgot to harden off sweetcorn!

TCB1

I can't believe how stupid I have been today!!!!

I have just planted out 3 of my sweetcorn that are just too big to be indoors now (over a foot tall) and I completly forgot to harden them off first.

I have a cold frame on the patio, should I take out the things that in in that, bring them indoors and put the coldframe over if it will fit?

What if it doesn't fit? any ideas on what I could do?

WestonDave

See if you can bodge some kind of tunnel over them - if you have clear polythene around so much the better but to be honest overnight you could get away with large carrier bags or even bin bags. I'd stick 3 sticks or canes around each one and then put a bag over it and secure it with some clothes pegs - you only really need something to keep a bit of warmth in and the worst of the frost off.

(My sweetcorn have barely germinated!)

ALIBOBSY

ditto westondave or carboard boxes over the top, anything to stop the cold getting to them overnight, my sweetcorn and still germinating in the greenhouse so may be worth banging a few more in as backups just in case?
Where in the country are you? I am in lancashire, but we are quite sheltered around here so I don't expect any more frosts unless we are really unlucky- old curtains and homemade plastic cloches at the ready in case lol.
good luck

ali x

TCB1

I am in Hertfordshire and it is pretty warm here so I am not so worried about frost more that the sweetcorn won't like the cold and end up stunted.

They are my pride and joy after a disaster with my broccoli. Although plenty of time to re-sow my broccoli straight into my raised beds.

notwithit??

i use old juice bottles for mine, just cut the bottom off and place over the top of the plant. you can leave them like that for a couple of weeks, just unscrewing the top off in the day and to water!! i got loads of 3ltr robinsons ones off freecycle.....perfect!

irishwexford

my sweetcorn are just tiny at present so I don't expect to plant them out until end of May or early June. I have 20 growing but on gardeners world they suggested planting a second crop in July to take u through to end of summer so I will be planting planting seeds again middle to end of May. Haden't thought of doing this.