Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Ghost on September 08, 2017, 19:20

Title: 2nd Sweetcorn cob
Post by: Ghost on September 08, 2017, 19:20

Hi

How long does it take for the second cob to be ready to eat after the first one? I've picked the first cobs. The tassels of the second cobs have gone brown a while ago but I can't see any kennels forming.

Thanks

Title: Re: 2nd Sweetcorn cob
Post by: JayG on September 08, 2017, 20:48

Unfortunately the second (or third) potential cobs develop later and are also lower and hence further away from the tassels which pollinate them - the silks still go brown even if they've not been pollinated, so when it looks as if they're ready peel back part of the sheath to find out whether there's actually anything worth eating.

Title: Re: 2nd Sweetcorn cob
Post by: victoria park on September 08, 2017, 21:52

I find 2nd and third cobs on my sundance are rarely worth the bother, maybe 1 in 6. One can always pick them as stir fry baby corn 2 or 3 days after the silks appear. It's what some commercial growers do. The more corn planted, the easier to make that decision.

Title: Re: 2nd Sweetcorn cob
Post by: New shoot on September 09, 2017, 14:06

I've just picked some of the last few cobs from my corn and there were a few worth eating, but I had some that hadn't really developed.  These were mostly the 3rd cobs further down the stem that I didn't have a huge amount of hope for.

I found an enthusiastic group of consumers though  ;)  A small white feathered person, who shall remain nameless, forgot all his manners and barged in without letting his girls have first pick.  They were not impressed  :lol: