Sometimes it can be easy to over complicate things in the kitchen. With sweet corn I'm a big believer in keeping it simple. BBQ or cook the cob in water, add a bit of butter and enjoy. Of course there are many ways you can incorporate corn from the cob in a meal but that's the beauty of it - you can make it as complicated as you want.

Luckily, growing sweet corn is also pretty simple. All you need is a bit of space to grow them - preferably in a sunny and free-draining spot. If you live down south try planting them in front of a fence that will reflect heat down onto the plants so they get the sun and warmth they need. 

Grab some Awapuni Nurseries sweet corn seedlings next time you're down at your local supermarket, Bunnings, or The Warehouse. Alternatively, head to our online store at and have them delivered direct to your door. For a family of around four people you'll need around 20 plants or two bundles.

Once you've found the perfect spot dig a little hole and plant your seedlings around 20cm apart from each other. I like to plant mine in rows or in a group so each plant can support another, as they grow taller.

As the corncob starts to form it's important to water to ensure the plants don't dry out. You should be able to get around two cobs off a plant starting in late summer. Not sure if they're ready? Peel back the husk of the cob a little bit and if they look juicy they're ready. But if the corn looks a little hard it's needs some more time.

Once you've harvested all the corn, pull the plants out. Sweet corn can take a lot of nitrogen out of the soil so try planting peas and beans in the spot where your corn was to bump up the nitrogen content again.