Sweet Corn Silks

[anni]

Hi All,
As a complete newbie, I sowed my sweetcorn really far too early (end Feb!) but managed to keep it going and hardened off and planted out end of April. Anyway, it has really grown well, but my question is that I now have between 3 and 6 silks per plant and 15 plants. I thought that I would only get between 1 and 2 cobs per plant. Am I right in thinking that if (big if I know) all the silks got pollinated, I could now get 1 cob per silk?

And also, a secondary question, how will I know when they are ready to harvest?

This photo was taken this morning:


Anni

[zazen999]

Yes, 1 cob = 1 pollenated silk...

They look nearly ready, the way to tell is peel back the husk and press your fingernail into a 'corn' - if it comes out milky then it can be harvested. I'd get the water boiling before you actually snap it off though, and run back to the kitchen peeling the husk and silks off and get it straight into the water.

I'd very very jealous of your beautifully advanced crop there.

[Kristen]

"Am I right in thinking that if (big if I know) all the silks got pollinated, I could now get 1 cob per silk?"

I reckon. It helps if they are planted in a square, rather than a row, so that the wind can pollinate them.

It takes about a month from pollination to harvest. When they are ready the silks will be nearly black, and if you push your nail into an individual "corn" you should see a creamy liquid ooze out.

[Rhona]

Wow! Good job there. I'm envious too! Enjoy your crop.

[Two_Sheds]

Your corn is nearly ready when the silks look like burnt hair. So, not ready yet.

The next test is to dig your nail into a kernel ~ if you get clear juice, it ain't ready yet. If the juice is milky, pick it and eat it!

[jonohanson]

My sweetcorn must not be doing that well then, they are only about 1ft tall and have no silks although they have shoots coming off the side and from the ground, will they be the bits that turn into the corns??

[HeyWayne]

Holy chit!! My plants are only about a foot tall! Well done!

[anni]

Thanks for the replies.... I'll wait a bit longer, then do the nail test.

So maybe the early sowing wasn't such a bad idea after all then?

I just hope they're not all ready at the same time, hubby hates sweetcorn and I can't manage 50+ in a month let alone a week!

I did plant them in a block 18inches apart, so hopefully with all the wind they've withstood since April they got pollinated.

If it all works out well, I think I'll repeat this years mistakes on the sweetcorn next year.
And maybe even do some date staggered blocks to even out the harvest.

Anni

[Kristen]

"And maybe even do some date staggered blocks to even out the harvest."

That's also prudent in case you catch a late frost or somesuch.

[Demeter]

Wow that's wonderful, well done you.
I was congratulating myself on our fine sweetcorn plants the other day, but they're nothing like as well advanced as yours!!

Just out of interest - if you staggered planting, would they all be ready for pollination at different times and, assuming that this is the case, would that make pollination more of a problem as there are less other plants ready at the same time, if you see what I mean...

[kentvegplot]

Wow, fantastic! Mine are just flowering now so hopefully about a month to eating.Can't wait!

[vegnut]

I'm very impressed anni. Nice crop

[fastlearner]

Wow they look fantastic! Well done! I'll be happy if I get half that amount from mine

[Flapjack]

Amazing! Mine are miles off that pic