baby corn

[Mr&MrsB]

Hi,

How and when do you harvest baby corns?

Mine are very tall now and have some type of dried flower coming out of the tops of them.

x

[Capsid]

The cobs form on the stem, you'll see these as what look like side shoots to begin with. The flower on the top is the male part and tapping the stem will promote the pollen to drop on the female flowers below which appear from the "side shoots" as hairy tassles.

[Mr&MrsB]

thats great, Thanks

x

[SarzWix]

When you say "baby corn", do you mean the tiny ones which you use in stir-fry? Or just small sized 'corn-on-the-cob'?
It does make a difference to the harvesting: The stir-fry type (such as Minipop) are harvested before they are pollinated, as they're really just an immature form of cob. So they are harvested when the bits on the sides of the stalk have grown into a long bulge with the silky 'tassels' (look like pale green/whitish threads in a bunch) just coming out of the top. Whereas the ones you eat as 'corn-on-the-cob' must be pollinated. So these will grow long bulges on the side of the stalk, and the tassels will come out of the top, the pollen will drop down from the grassy bit on the top & stick to the tassels to pollinate the cobs. Eventually, the tassels will turn a chocolatey brown colour & your corn will be ready to harvest. Pull down some of the leaves around the cob (like peeling a banana) until you see a bit of corn, stick your thumbnail in & if the juice is milky it's ready. You just kind of bend it away from the stem & it comes off quite easily.

[Mr&MrsB]

oo im all confused now?

The ones i have are the baby ones that you use in stir frys.
The have grown tall stalks with lots of long leaves coing off them and they have now got the tassle type flower coming out of the top of each stalk (have about 3 or 4 stalks)

So what do i do with them now?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for helping!

x

[spiderpig]

thanks capsid,i went to inspect my corn today and have noticed it has changed just as you described.i will try a bit of tapping tomorrow! thanks

[Dipzy]

I'm growing baby sweetcorn for the first time, the tassles are out and the cobs are forming with grassy heads, but when do you know it is time to pick them ?

I have only grown five in a large pot as they take up a lot of room and I've promised them to my children, one being a non sweetcorn eater trying for the first time. I'm sure they'll let me have just one, do you think ?

[Mr&MrsB]

im even more confused!!!

I have the long stalks and the dry tassle flowers are out of the tops, but i cant see any baby corn forming anywhere???

x

[Capsid]

Here's a picture of my sweetcorn.

The female flower is forming on the stem on the left towards the bottom.

[Mr&MrsB]

Ah i see!

Well i havent got any of the female ones, mine are just teh long stalks with the dry tassle out of the top. so i guess i will ahve to wait for the little ones to apear at teh sides

x

[Dipzy]

I decided to take the pluge today, all the top tassles are out and many have long grassy/silky threads hanging down. I picked my first mini cob and my god it is huge, the length of my hand and some and diameter about 2cm to an inch at the base. It is suprising how the little home it lives in can disguise it's size so much.

Hope my boy will eat his first home grown mini pop tonight.

Guess the are ready a lot quicker than you realise. Would love to hear how the rest of you got on.

[SarzWix]

I think you're supposed to harvest the stir-fry (minipop) ones as soon as the silks start showing at the side. Don't wait for them to get long & dangly.
My daughters aren't even forming side shoot thingies yet, hope they get a move on!

[Minerva]

Hi

How do you normally get the corn off the plant? I have minipop growing and they have side shoots with tassles at the top which are starting to go brown. Should I pull the whole side shoot off (tassles and "skin" around the corn) or just take the corn out of the package? Thanks

[Bella]

Hi,
This is the 1st year that I have tried growing sweetcorn. I think my 'big' sweetcorn is about ready for harvesting, but I always tend to harvest things too early, so I am a bit apprehensive!! But as for my 'minipop, I think I have left them too long. They now have the silks and they are pink!!!! If I leave them to go brown will they grow into normal sweetcorn??? but if I harvest them now will they still be edible??
Please Help. Thanks
Bella

[susieq100]

Hi Bella
I am in the same predicament as you - I have grown minipop and 'normal' sweetcorn and don't know which is which. So, I thought I would leave the minipop and wait for the big corn to fruit and then eat them all big! One of my things to do next year is LABEL things properly!