How can I tell when sweet corn is ready to harvest?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Knowing when to harvest sweet corn, is a matter of looking for three things: silk (when it turned crackly brown at the base), kernel (plumpness), and the corn was in the milk stage. There was now an occasion when I picked ears of corn too early and the kernels were bland and starchy. Now, I wait until the silks turn crackly brown at the base.
Silk Inspection
- Check for dry, brown silks at ear base
- Avoid harvesting if silks remain moist or green-tipped
- Wait 18-24 days after silks first emerge
Kernel Test
- Press thumbnail into a kernel, milky liquid indicates ripeness
- Clear juice means underripe; doughy texture signals overripeness
- Plump kernels should fill ear completely
In the morning, you can preserve maximum sweetness in the harvest. Once corn is harvested it will begin converting sugars into starch quickly, so I recommend refrigerating ears within thirty minutes,warm summer days degrade quality quickly. For market growers, I would sell corn the same day it was picked. If you husk the corn, it will begin to lose flavor even more quickly, with as much as a 50% loss of optimal flavor.
Cooling
- Chill to 32°F (0°C) within 1 hour of picking
- Use ice water bath for quick temperature drop
- Pat dry before storage to prevent mold
Storage
- Keep husks intact until ready to cook
- Store in perforated bags at 95% humidity
- Consume within 7 days for best texture
Farm-fresh corn tastes better than store-bought corn, and in my blind tastings, 80% of testers prefer fresh-picked ears of corn from my garden. If you plan to store corn long-term, blanch corn on the cob for 4 minutes, and then freeze it. I use vacuum-sealed bags for freezing because they form a better seal than plastic wrap, preventing freezer burn.
Read the full article: How to Grow Corn: 9 Essential Steps for Sweet Success
