When is corn ripe and how to know when it is ripe

Ripe corn is a favorite treat for children and adults. At the end of summer, fragrant boiled ears adorn dining tables, and gardeners casually boast to each other about the size of the harvest. But not everyone has many years of experience in growing corn behind their backs and not everyone can determine the ripeness of corn on the fly. In this article, we'll look at how to figure out when to harvest corn and how to do it right.

Content

1 Ripening signs
2 Ripening terms
3 How to collect
4 Video "Determination of maize maturity"

Ripening signs

Ripening dates vary from variety to variety, so it is important to know how to determine the maturity of this crop without a calendar. Check the top ear first as it ripens first. Therefore, if you want to try, boldly break off the top one and cook. Usually, it is the upper ears that deviate to the side, indicating the degree of ripeness, until they fall perpendicular to the stem.

The next step is checking the cob. The grains should become swollen over the entire area of the cob, and the threads with which it is strewn should dry out. It is by the color of these threads that ripeness can be determined. When they turn brown, dry and peel off easily, the crop is ready to be harvested. Examine the top of the cob. It should be round and dull, which means the grains are ripe.

If the previous steps did not give you an idea of the maturity of the corn, gently move the leaves and inspect the kernels - the ear should be completely covered with them. Press a few grains with your fingernail, if the liquid that comes out is white, you can pluck the corn. If the liquid is clear, the corn has not yet ripened, and if it is very thick, then it is overripe.

And the color of the grains can tell a lot. When corn enters the stage of milk ripeness, they are light yellow, the closer the corn is to the stage of full ripeness, the darker and richer their color becomes.

If you are growing popcorn, the kernels of which are used to make popcorn, wait until the stem turns brown first. For the bursting variety, the harvest period is shifted as the cobs are harvested at the peak of maturity. That is, the later the better. Therefore, you should wait until the stem, the ear, and the leaves acquire a brown color.

Ripening terms

The ripening time of a crop varies depending on the variety and the region of Russia in which it is grown. For example, in the Moscow region, early maturing varieties are most often grown, the harvest of which can be harvested already at the end of July and beginning of August. Among the varieties that are used to sow fields in the Moscow region, the best are: "Dobrynya", "Lakomka 121", "Early gold 401", "Spirit F1". They are distinguished by high productivity, resistance to many diseases and are among the first to ripen among all varieties.

On average, from germination to full maturation, it takes from 65 to 150 days. The flowering period begins at about 60-65 days, but this depends on the variety, as well as the stage of milk ripeness begins at 75-85 days. The term varies not only depending on the variety, but also on the region of Russia in which the corn grows, as well as on the quality of its care.

How to collect

So, when you realized that the corn is ripe (in the Moscow region this period occurs at the end of August and lasts almost until the end of September), it's time to harvest it. No special preparation is needed for this procedure, so harvesting will be easy and hassle-free.

The collection is best done in the early morning. Put on gloves first to avoid injuring your hands.Squeeze the ear in the palm of your hand, hold the stem with the other palm, pull the ear down and twist.

It should be noted that most sweet varieties lose their palatability within 24 hours after harvest. This means that the crop must be immediately sent for processing or eaten. However, there are tricks to keeping the beans sweet.

Place the ears in a cool place, such as a vegetable storage compartment in the refrigerator. This will slow down the conversion of sugar to starch and preserve the flavor of the corn for a week.

Considering that most varieties, especially hybrid ones, yield 2-4 ears from one plant, cut them off gradually, keeping the collection interval at least 10 days.

When collecting popcorn (in the Moscow region, this period begins by mid-September), try to be in time before the onset of frost. Again, equip yourself with gloves and start breaking off the cobs. When the stems and leaves dry out, this procedure will not take much of your time and effort.

The popcorn is then dried for at least 4 weeks, preferably 6-7 weeks to leave only a small amount of moisture in the kernels. They dry it by putting it in mesh bags, which are then hung in a warm room with good ventilation. At the end of the drying stage, the grains are separated from the cobs by rolling it between the palms. It is also recommended to carry out this procedure with gloves so as not to damage the skin with the sharp edges of the grains.

Properly dried popcorn kernels can be stored in sealed jars in a dark and dry place. High humidity will cause them to become damp and unusable.

Video "Determination of maize maturity"

The author of this video demonstrates how and by what signs you can determine when it is time to harvest corn.