[Nogger]

I have just harvest a couple of cobs,they both had the very dark beard;;signs of maturaty;they are about 12"-18" long and the diameter is a little smaller than a tennis ball at one end, smaller than you see in the stores, the colour is of a nice sunny yellow,
i have put them into a pan of boiling water for 15mins,i did the same last week with two but boiled them for 10mins, and you just can't eat them,its like trying to eat a cob of pebbles,"very hard" :? i have quite a lot of cobs left but if they are like the ones i have harvest, i might aswell dump them. does anybody have any ideas.

[Beetroot queen]

Dont they need longer than that too cook, I always do mine for longer although I dont time them, so I couldnt tell exactly how long  :?

[Riala]

I have always cooked mine for around 15 minutes, I can only assume that yours are not ready?

Are you placing them into boiling water, or cold water and timing from when the water boils?

[richyrich7]

If you pop a kernel with your finger nail ,do you get a milky liquid ? this means they are ready.

[Nogger]

i have always put them into boiling water.

[richyrich7]

Just had a thought what variety are they and is there other corn growing nearby this can affect the sweetness, if your next to a field of fodder maize  :shock:

[Nogger]

i have just had some off my brother inlaw,they were beautiful,and he is on an allotment close bye to me,  i bought mine from B&Q but to look at them  they look brill, i will try that what you said richy,i havn't a clue what sort they are but the corn is very hard,and i thought with the beards nearly black they would be ready :?

[richyrich7]

Thats the way I do mine just had the first lot off for Sunday dinner this week lovely apparently, I never got 1 !!  :roll:

[mashauk]

If I've picked it that day I only cook it for 6-7 minutes, sometimes I eat them raw straight from the cob, they're sweetest that way.  I would just do it for a few minutes then taste - it can be overcooked as well as undercooked!

[lincspoacher]

I cut them into 3 inch sections, they cook quicker - but then the best way is to put them in a vegetable steamer for 30 mins.

[iwantanallotment]

I ate two that weren't quite ready...still white at the ends....but they were still nice, so I can't think what your problem is.
As RR asked - could your crop have been infected by nearby corn fodder plants? Cos I know those are inedible and stay rock hard no matter how long you cook them...??

[rainie]

Please excuse me for jumping on your sweetcorn thread. How can I tell when the cobs are ready?  The ones at the top of the plant are being eaten by I can only assume 'pigeons'. I want to harvest the rest before they get eaten too. The tassly things on the top are coming off. I havent examined anything else. Thanks.

Re cooking sweetcorn: Maybe yours are really big ones and the recipe you are reading is for small weedy shop bought ones? I would try cooking for longer.

[lucywil]

are you sure you are not over cooking them? mine get 3 minutes tops

[crowndale]

Mine too lucy, 3 minutes if they're lucky!  and very tender and sweet.  hmm, must go get another 4 today!  even shop bought older ones only get a max of 5 mins and they are then a bit chewy compared to the home grown ones.

[Bombers]

I bet mine only got 4-5 minutes on the Barbeque on Saturday. I left the leaves on and chucked em on! Those were Jubilee Supersweet F1 from B&Q as well.
Luverly