is it time to pick or a bit early?
It really depends when you sowed them, if the tassels have turned brown pull back the husk a little, then pierce one of the corns with your nail, if there is a milky discharge then they are ready. Mine were sown 26th April and I harvested them last week.
Thanks - will check. Can I put them straight into the freezer if they're all ripe? Do I need to do anything special to prepare them for this?
I do blanch mine before freezing but only for a few seconds in boiling water and then immediately plunge them into ice cold water.
Whether that is necessary I cannot be sure it`s just what I do
I do exactly the same as cleo.
Blanch for a few mins, plunge into freezing cold water, thoroughly dry and straight into the freezer.
It is best to blanch as it kills any bacteria and stops the enzyme action.
the proper blanching time for corn is 3 minutes. then 2 minutes in ice water.
the corn need to reach a certain temperature for blanching to have the desired effect. A few seconds in the boiling water is not enough.
so I'm assuming everyone takes off all the outer coverings before blanching?
It depends how much you have. I freeze mine successfully by stripping kernels off cobs and putting straight into freezer unblanched. Cook from frozen like peas, very good taste.
But I don't have enough to last much beyond Christmas :(