Will my sweetcorn ripen any more?

mange tout · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:44 pm Post subject: Will my sweetcorn ripen any more?

Probably planted it late, like everything else this year. Plants look good and have produced normal length cobs but when I peel back the tassels the kernals I can see look tiny, like they're baby corns.

As I say the cobs seem to be like the size of ones you'd get in shop (I've never grown it before). Is there any point in waiting any longer at this time of year given falling temps or shall I just cut my losses and pick what i have?

tagwex · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:44 pm Post subject:

Sounds like bird food by now! They won't ripen anymore. Are the brown tassels on then? They might be edible. I have a similar problem with 8 good size melons in the greenhouse that I doubt will ripen.

mange tout · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 6:18 am Post subject:

The tassels were slightly brown but it was a bit of work to pull them back to the point I could see the kernals.

I suppose you can eat baby corn so will certainly try!

mange tout · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:02 am Post subject:

Just to update on this if anyone else searches threads, the corns were still delicious. When I pulled back the stalk further the corns got full size and I could eat the entire cob on the ones which remained small, so no damage done.

Will try and get them out earlier this year.

Blowin · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:57 am Post subject:

Made into a 'tea' by infusing them in boiling water, the tassels are listed amongst herbal remedies as being good for weight loss.