Sweet corn Ashworth

Sweet corn Ashworth is an early corn variety that is particularly well suited for cultivation in Sweden, as it can handle cooler soil and yields a slightly earlier harvest than many other varieties. Ashworth grows to around 150–180 cm tall and produces golden yellow cobs with a deep, buttery flavour, although it is not quite as sweet as some modern hybrids.

You can either sow the corn indoors in April–May or direct sow the seeds outdoors in May–June, when the soil temperature has reached at least 15 degrees. From direct sowing, it takes about 70 days to harvest, which means the cobs are usually ready by the end of summer. For best results, it is good to grow Ashworth in blocks or double rows, as this helps pollination and produces larger and more even cobs.

Corn tastes best freshly picked, boiled or grilled with butter and salt, but also works well frozen.

• Botanical name: Zea mays var. saccharata

• Number of seeds: about 30 pcs

• Cultivation type: Open space

• Sowing time (pre-sown/direct sowing): April–May (pre-sown), May–June (directly sown)

• Seeding depth: 4cm

• Plant spacing: 20–30cm

• Line spacing: 70–80 cm (or about 60 cm when grown in blocks)

• Origin: Sweden

• Germination: at least 95%

• Grown by: Britt-Marie in Linnemölla (Kristianstad)