Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: anemone on August 22, 2009, 12:23:27

Title: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: anemone on August 22, 2009, 12:23:27
How long after the tassles are brown is the sweetcorn ready to pick?

Mine have been brown a week now, but when I checked them they still run clear rather than milky. The kernels are still really pale too.

It's the first time i've grown them and I don't want to miss them! Well i did try last year but lost all to badgers :(

Many thanks
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: Flighty on August 22, 2009, 12:35:30
The silks should be chocolate brown and the liquid creamy when a couple grains are squeezed.
I'd give them a few more days then try again.
Depending on which variety they are some kernels are very pale.
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: anemone on August 22, 2009, 12:39:27
Thank you. The variety is Ovation - I've had a google and they do look pretty pale. I'll try the squeeze test again in a few days.

Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: anemone on August 23, 2009, 14:01:30
arrrgh!!! since yesterday something has pushed the wire fence down and got to all the sweetcorn. badgers?? how do i stop them next year???
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: saddad on August 23, 2009, 14:06:35
Land mines?  :-X
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: anemone on August 23, 2009, 14:10:39
tempting right now ! that's two years in a row and I was feeling so pleased with my wire fence this year. and the sweetcorn was nearly ready... sob.
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: macmac on August 23, 2009, 14:22:48
Quote from: anemone on August 23, 2009, 14:01:30
arrrgh!!! since yesterday something has pushed the wire fence down and got to all the sweetcorn. badgers?? how do i stop them next year???
we've grown ours at home this year as the lottie badger hasn't got our home address ;D ;D ;D
seriously sorry to here about losing your crop it drive's you nuts when it happens >:(
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: Flighty on August 23, 2009, 14:44:38
Anemone I'm sorry to hear that!
Thankfully badgers are one problem that I don't have on the plot, so fingers crossed that mine are still okay!
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: thifasmom on August 23, 2009, 17:38:00
Quote from: anemone on August 23, 2009, 14:01:30
arrrgh!!! since yesterday something has pushed the wire fence down and got to all the sweetcorn. badgers?? how do i stop them next year???

oh what a shame, sorry to hear this, have you thought of eletric tape intertwined through your wire fence next time. you can get those that are solar powered.
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: tootles on August 29, 2009, 17:44:27
We had a problem with badgers at our allotments, the badger people advised me to use jeyes fluid in a spray all around the edge of the allotment apparently thay do not like the smell. We sprayed ours after our friend had dug up all our paths, we have not had any trouble since.

I have just had the first 4 cobs off ours and they were superb.
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: manicscousers on August 29, 2009, 18:19:49
hiya, tootles, welcome to the site  ;D
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: saddad on August 29, 2009, 19:31:42
Welcome to A4A Tootles
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: tonybloke on August 29, 2009, 20:54:20
welcome aboard,  tootles,  ;)
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: Flighty on September 03, 2009, 12:18:47
Picked the first of mine this morning. The variety is Golden Bantam which thankfully has a strong wind resistance as it's very blowy here today!

[attachment=1]
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: anemone on September 04, 2009, 23:33:46
Hi Tootles and thank you. I've been wondering why one of the plots opposite has untouched sweetcorn with no visible protection!

Your sweetcorn looks lovely flightly, much nicer than the lidls stuff I'm buying :)
Title: Re: sweetcorn - brown tassles
Post by: Flighty on September 05, 2009, 07:32:22
Anemone thanks, they were delicious and I'll be having some more over the weekend!