Sorry... more help with minipop baby corn please!

[vixylix]

Hello all!

Thanks to previous help (Thelma particularly!) - I think my baby corn are now ready for harvesting.

Two questions though:

1. I cant seem to get a straight answer on whether this should be when the silks first start showing or whether it should be when they turn pink. They are curerntly white / green with some longer than others.

2. I decided to do a recce yesterday on one with the longest silks - I tried to 'peel' open the husk, as I've seen described, but there was just millions of super long silks all the way to the bottom of the husk. Just as I was about to give up and declare a lack of corn I just saw the tip right at the bottom. Sooo, my next question is how on earth do I get it out without destroying the plant? It seems to be still in the main stem?! Or does this mean its not ready to be harvested yet?

Thank you!

[Lumpy]

Not that this helps much but if I have success with my corn, and fingers crossed for this year I pick them when the tassles are brown.

The cobs normally stand proud of the main stem so when they are ready you cut off the cob, including the leaf wrappings and silks and then peel the leaves backwards to reveal your corn. The silks pull off easily.
It means that your plant stem is not affected by trying to prize the cob out of its wrapping.

Someone will be along shortly that will know far better than me - it might be better to listen to a far more experienced cron grower before you take my word for it.

[vixylix]

Thanks Lumpy but I believe its different for baby corn and normal corn - they need to be harvested before the silks are pollinated and before they turn brown. Its a minefield

[Lumpy]

Sorry V its my fault as I didn't see the Minipop in your header. I have/had 8 of those and they have yet to reach more than 6in high!

Good Luck

[vixylix]

Sorry V its my fault as I didn't see the Minipop in your header. I have/had 8 of those and they have yet to reach more than 6in high!

Good Luck

Oh no! Mine are six foot tall!!

I have 8 which were bought as tiny plants - I had three outside and five inside - no idea why. The ones inside were doing amazing so went outside in May with the others which looked feeble by comparison. They've all caught up now though. Hoping the corn will be worth it though as they werent cheap. I've bought some seeds for next year so will be interesting if they do as well!

[Thelma Sanders]

Hello all!

Thanks to previous help (Thelma particularly!) - I think my baby corn are now ready for harvesting.

Two questions though:

1. I cant seem to get a straight answer on whether this should be when the silks first start showing or whether it should be when they turn pink. They are curerntly white / green with some longer than others.

2. I decided to do a recce yesterday on one with the longest silks - I tried to 'peel' open the husk, as I've seen described, but there was just millions of super long silks all the way to the bottom of the husk. Just as I was about to give up and declare a lack of corn I just saw the tip right at the bottom. Sooo, my next question is how on earth do I get it out without destroying the plant? It seems to be still in the main stem?! Or does this mean its not ready to be harvested yet?

Thank you!

Usually by 2 or 3 weeks after the tassels (at the top of the plant) appeared the top cobs are about ready. You eat them when the silks are still white/green - which is when they're stir-fry size, or leave a few days longer for slightly bigger cobs, the choice is yours.

Then move on to the next cobs down - you usually get between 4 and 6 cobs per plant. I think the videos sowing pink silks are for ordinary sweetcorn being eaten early - rather than minipop.

Cut through the bottom of the cob, next to the stalk with pruners. I find if I try to bend them back it sometimes snaps through the cob, or through the main stalk. Clumsy me!

[WendyC]

Have a watch of this video:

https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/...abycorn_Video/

Shows difference in harvesting quite clearly.

[Thelma Sanders]

their page here,
https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/..._Seed_Minipop/
shows what their like if left to grow bigger, I prefer to eat mine smaller than that, at what I call stir fry size

[vixylix]

Cut through the bottom of the cob, next to the stalk with pruners. I find if I try to bend them back it sometimes snaps through the cob, or through the main stalk. Clumsy me!

Thanks Thelma - I think if I cut next to the stalk there'll only be the tip of the baby corn though?! So confused! Maybe I'll cut one off tonight and see if its just me being dim!

[vixylix]

Thanks for all your help. I pulled one off as a trail run and it was plenty big enough (and delicious!). Very happy!