Grow Your Own Magazine

After the rain soaked month that was August my sweetcorn is still not yet ripe and I am wondering if I should give up on it. Living in Manchester what's the latest I can leave it or should I give up?

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We have left ours until the end of September, so another month would be ok so long as there are no squirrels around to eat them.
We only took our first ones this week, so just keep peeping into the largest ones. Remember to check half way down as the tips sometimes never go yellow.
You also need to check that the cobs are not dehydrating (yes- even in this weather!!) as they will need picking at that point
September could well prove to be warm and sunny!

Mine aren't ready yet either, but one cob looks nearly there - tassles have gone brown but juice is still clear.

The seed packet says they can be harvested Aug-Oct, so I reckon I can give 'em a couple of months yet

Hi everyone, thought it was just me! tried picking a cob last week, but the kernels werent properly formed. Just hoping that the wet weather up here in't north will help them to grow, not hinder growth. Lets all compare notes.......... dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

ours were ready but only half formed we ate them raw we couldnt wait, delicious.

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

I think I have a REAL big problem.... I'm only just starting to flower... never mind cobs!!!!!

I think I planted them too late, and they're in a bad part of the garden (it was the only bit of space I had left though... )

Hey Slug
just keep them going....maybe take off the top cobs as you would do with tomatoes.
Even if they produce 1 or 2 cobs per plant that is fantastic.
DO>>>>try again next year,,either earlier or a different variety
so worth the effort when they produce!!

Hi slug - at least yours are still doing the business. Hopefully they will be OK -hopefully the weather is good at your end so that they continue to grow. Only the experts will be able to tell you, and everyone else is more of an expert than me! dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

We had our first ones last night - very nice! Weren't sure if they were ready or not in the end, but looked and tasted good!

I'm a first time corn grower, can you pick the cob and leave it in it's cacoon and let it ripen indoors like late ripening tomatoes or doesn't this work?

Hi Nicos and dexterdog - I appreciate the comments.... makes me feel like all is not lost!

They're definitely on the move quite quickly now.... so I'm hoping that with a bit more warm weather I can still get something from them. Next year I'll definitely try them again - I'll start them earlier and I've already ear marked their spot for next year

My corn (photo taken today)
Still not ripe yet but I think I should be able to at least harvest a few cobs before the frost sets in! Didn't know where to plant cornflower so wondered if it got its name from growing with corn? Both seem to have thrived together
I don't think its bad for outdoor sown seed which cost 19p a packet and is growing in the North East of England!

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Burnie, as far as I know you must leave the cob on the plant to ripen. They don't ripen once they are picked the sugar in them just turns to starch and then they don't taste nice when you cook them.

Best way with sweetcorn (if close to home!) is put your saucepan filled with water on to boil, go outside pick your sweetcorn, peel the outer bits off and put straight into the saucepan to cook! Best taste ever!

Thanks squirrel, I'll leave them where they are and see what happens,it's fair to say that you expect at least one failure in a season and up to now I've had a good year,fingers crossed for some warmth,where's that global warming when you need it!

Who's been watching Bob Flowerdew then?

I remember him running to the pan with them!

Not guilty this time! Been growing sweetcorn for so many years - love them on the bbq straight from the plant!

Rinse the cop complete with skin left on in salt water for 3 or 4 mins. Put on med/ low coals (heat) turning every now and then until cooked. Peel off the outside and enjoy!

Sounds good, I bet the sugar in them will caramalise and brown them. Yum!