Harvesting sweetcorn

Hi all,
The sweetcorn on my allotment is massive....at least 6ft, each plant has 3-4 corns and I have noticed today that the hairy bits (you know what I mean!!) have died back, so that means thay are ready for harvesting.
I picked 5 today for dinner tonight and they look fab and are a good size, but some of the corns still on the plants are not nearly as big but the hairy stuff has still died back. I have nearly 40 plants!!!!!!!! and they all seem ready!
So, my questions are...
will they continue to grow and ripen once the hairy stuff has died back?
and, once ready for harvest, how long will they keep on the plant? So, can I pick them occassionaly to eat fresh or do I need to harvest them all now and freeze them?
Thank you

 

Hi Ali, glad you got a bumper crop :thumb:

As soon as you pick the cobs the sugars will start turning to starch so the quicker they are cooked or frozen the better, I aim for 10 mins from picking to eating. If you leave them on the plants Mr Badger will have the lot away. He'll knock all the plants over to get them.

If your freezer gets too full, try stripping the corn off the husks with a knife ( or a friendly badger) & putting it in bags :flwsml:

 

What variety did you choose? Mine are sundance, I think, and they look like they have one cob on each, so I won't bother with those again.

 

Thanks Ziggy, they shall definately fill the freezer!

Liz, to be honest I can't remeber the variety, but in the morning I shall have a look (I keep all my seed packets in the greenhouse and its dark and scary down there now!!!) and I will let you know tomorrow

 

Hi Liz, the variety is 'Incredible f1' cheepy packet from wilkinsons

 

Alison,
I have added it to my list of seeds to get for next year.:thmb:

I have sweetcorn that looks pretty but not a singel cob on it.

I think the hairy bits are called silky tassles. I love the way they feel so smooth and silky.

 

Shobna...I love the hairy bits too lol :D