Sweetcorn

[AmyHeighton95]

Hello, can anyone advise whether my sweetcorn is ready to be harvested? Online it says when the fluffy top is brown it’s ready to be checked but when I peel back some of the green to check the corn, it seems very tight and the fluffy stuff underneath is white. I don’t want to leave them too long but are they ready?

Sown indoors: 23rd April
Planted out in June

 

[AmyHeighton95]

Here are some photos!

 

[pepper]

My understanding of corn being ready to pick is when the top browns like that, and you open one a bit to stick a kernel. It's it's light milky juice then it's ready. If you wait too long it's sugars turn to starchy taste and the juice is more like cream then milk.

 

[pepper]

I found this YouTube video for you. For myself I find it easier to learn when I can see what someone is talking about.

 

[Meadowlark]

... are they ready?

Not quite ready, but close. I'd guess about 4-5 days from when that picture was taken, most of it will be ready. The silks need to be completely brown for them to be ready.

Good job on that corn...transplanted corn is more difficult to grow to maturity for me, but yours looks good.

 

[AmyHeighton95]

That’s great thank you. I just tried piercing a kernel and the liquid came out just slightly less than clear but not quite milky, so I think you’re totally right that a few more days should do it. Thank you!

 

[oneeye]

That is pretty corn friend. I'm a little surprised you have full pollination so close to a fence. You must have a lot planted.

 

[MiniOrchardDude]

Before you harvest you need to know what type of corn you have. SU, SE, SH2 or SYN. They each have a way to determine when best to harvest. Some types of corn don't get milky, some dont get fat, some don't round off at the end and the list goes on. First find out your type and research when that specific type is best to harvest.

I have grown SE, SH2 and switched to SYN. SE and SH2 were dificult to determine best harvest dates for me. Always waited to long hoping they would get sweeter. SYN I have good luck with the days to harvest on the package.

MOD