How to Know When the Corn is Ready to Harvest: Tips on Picking Corn

There are 3 main clues you need to watch out for to determine if your corn is ready to harvest. Too early and its not sweet, too late and the sugars turn to starch. Just like Goldilocks, you need to get it just right....and its worth it! But first get your water boiling, then go out and pick the corn. Enjoy!

[@i8dpie]

I grew corn for the first time this summer. The sweet taste was incredible, I can't ever eat store bought again. Very easy crop to grow, everyone with a few square feet of soil can grow some corn, as long as it gets lots of sun and water. I was actually inspired by a tiny corn patch in NYC that was literally a square of sidewalk.

[@sarah_farm]

I love this upload since you included the behind-the-scenes of your hard work! And it's an honor to have you visit our channel, we can discuss more about our experiences in harvesting and building farms.

[@MissTarryn]

Wow that was really informative thank you very much for this educational video. I was clueless as to how the corn gets pollinated and not only did you teach that, you showed us how we can pollinate by hand!! That is just fantastic thank you

[@porridge301]

Thank you for starting this channel. I always learn so much.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks TheNibbles, I appreciate that, I also learn as I go along. Life is just amazing!

[@martyrose]

Thanks Tikki! Hope you're having a great summer! 💙💚💜 I've never seen anyone start corn indoors. Interesting.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Marty, I sowed some directly and they didn't come up until much later, so I still have another harvest coming! The ones I started indoors had a jump start. Thanks for the comment!

[@mr.goldfarmer4883]

Amazing. Learned so much about corn here~ Thank you!

[@hfamilytravels]

I am very new to gardening and this vlog was really helpful! I have my first crop of corn growing now and waiting for it to be ready to pick! So exciting ha!

[@celebrityestates3590]

Don’t often comment but this was extremely informative . Thank you 🙏🏻

[@genevievewilliams2776]

Great video, thank you… first time successfully growing and had no idea when to harvest.😅

[@Jmas369]

Grew corn up against the house for shade, I now also have a bunch of sweet corn.

[@d.t.4523]

Our smaller field was 120 acres of corn. Harvesting based on an average was the way we did it. I'm glad you had a successful yield. Next year try planting them 1 foot apart. They should be thick enough to see a bit of the second row, but not the third. Good luck! ​Thank you for the video.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks d.t., I appreciate the advice from a seasoned farmer. I'm a backyard gardener and its always exciting to us and the kids to grow and eat our own produce. We only have 1 acre, 120 is huge...and that was your smaller field?! Thanks for the tips, they are appreciated!

[@AnnaRosaEverythingEnergy]

Great video..as always. My first corn does have brown silk...but the corn does not fill up to the silk. Is there supposed to be an empty first 2 inches?

[@amberhorner7346]

Love your videos

[@Mrs.Chaos1982]

Thank you!!! Huge help

[@evergray]

I didn't know you usually only got one ear of corn per stalk, haha! I grew three corn stalks this year. Live and learn! I guess corn is a lot like Lincoln peas- cook or eat them IMMEDIATELY for the best sweet taste! Would grilling immediately work as well as boiling?

[@rockyusa2012]

Hi Tikki. Great corn 🌽 . What fertilize did you give then and how often?

[@TikkiOOO]

Hi Rocky USA, these beds have been growing different crops each year, I refilled them with compost and that was it. We have had a lot of rain this summer, so they got plenty of water and the compost was nice and rich. I noticed there are lots of worms in the soil that leave their castings, so I'm lucky with that as well. Thanks for the question!

[@rockyusa2012]

@@TikkiOOO Cool. Thanks Tikki. I am building my raised bed. Do you recommend a good soil brand and compost or do you make your own compost?

[@CitizenCS]

Another great video! We battled with raccoons for our harvest on the farm. How do you deal with critters?

[@TikkiOOO]

Hi Rich, this year we installed an electric fence. We did not do a "professional" job winding the wire around, but it zaps the 4 legged creatures just the same! It doesn't kill them, just scares them away, and it really works so its a great investment. Otherwise we always had animals foraging in the garden and it was very frustrating. Get an electric fence...that will work and you'll win the war!

[@johnmulligan912]

Great way to cook corn is to microwave for 5 minutes. Pick it and just put it straight in leaves an all.

[@Sirabun-qd6nu]

Mantap👍

[@brandonminiman]

What do you have in your soil to grow corn? It's such a heavy feeder! I can barely keep up

[@d.t.4523]

Corn needs a good amount of compost. If you don't have a plowed field, use mostly compost as the soil. In a backyard garden, you might need plenty of MiracleGro.

[@TikkiOOO]

Hi Brandon, d.t. is correct, I used compost to refill the bed from last year's grow. Last year those beds had the tomatoes in them, I rotate my plants year to year from bed to bed and also replenish with compost. Hope that helps!

[@jen38541]

It helps to grow corn with squash and beans (three sisters planting) ...

[@Gnomelandsecurity1883]

My corn plants has four ears.

[@Gnomelandsecurity1883]

I used corn that we feed the deer with during hunt season.

[@sallyplayzgames]

Thanks for the video sadly something is eating my corn😔

[@d.t.4523]

Test the soil and add whatever it needs. With good soil, corn can usually grow pest resistant.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks d.t.!

[@TikkiOOO]

Sorry to hear that Sallyplayz, is it an insect or a bigger animal? Or perhaps your neighbor got hungry???

[@sallyplayzgames]

@@TikkiOOO well it’s a catipillar

[@d.t.4523]

@@sallyplayzgames Try mixing a big handful of epsom salt in a couple gallons of water. Spray a little on the plants and water them with the rest. I might ward off the catepillars long enough for the roots to absorb it into the plants. Good luck!

[@johnmirbach2338]

😎👍👌🖖✌😁

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks john!