[anne from brittany]

Another newbie question I'm afraid! Last year I harvested my sweetcorn but it had shrunk a little and was dry. What should I look out for so that I can harvest it just at the correct time please? Also, my rhubarb is 2 years old but still green even though the stalks are nice and big. I always thought rhubarb had to turn partly pinky-red before picking. Is it okay to harvest now? Thanks for your kind help!
Anne :O)

[Yorkie]

Not all varieties of rhubarb turn red, but it's a little late in the year now to harvest it.  The taste is harsher later in the year, most people stop picking it by about mid-June.

Also as it's only in its second year, I'd just leave well alone, give it decent dollop of manure over the winter and pick it in spring next year 

Sweetcorn is something to do with when the tassels turn brown - but can't remember if it's before that or when that happens.  If you carefully peel back the outer leaves and press a thumbnail into a kernel, if it runs milky it's not ready - if it runs clear, it's ready.  I think 

[JayG]

It's no good telling you that sweetcorn should be harvested when the "silks" go brown because that starts to happen before the cobs are perfectly ready.

The best way is to test an individual seed by bursting it with your fingernail; if not quite ready the juice which comes out will be watery, if like thin cream it's perfect, if like thick cream (or none at all  ) you're too late again!

No doubt methods vary to access the cob without damaging its sheath too much; I find using a very sharp knife to make a tiny slit works best because you can easily test the lowest part of the cob which is the part which ripens first.

As for rhubarb; I'm no expert, but I think the stem colour varies with the variety; no doubt others can do better than just guessing!  

[Yorkie]

I go with what JayG said about sweetcorn!

[Nobbie]

I've bought two varieties of rhubarb, Canada Red (clue is in the name ) and Strawberry surprise which has a little redness at the bottom of the stalk, but is mostly green. Both taste great. I think this year you are ok still harvesting it as everything seems a bit late. The recent rain will probably spur a good bit of growth. I stewed some up last week and it was great with icecream

[anne from brittany]

Thanks everyone! I will resist the temptation to pick the rhubarb and let it continue to grow. I was thinking of moving it in the Autumn to a better spot...is that okay?
As for the sweetcorn...many thanks for your expertise! Here they only grow sweetcorn for their cows...you can guess the jokes my neighbours keep cracking.....
moo-ingly thankful
Anne:O)