Here you will read all you need to know about harvest and preparing corn. As a beginner I was really not sure how I was going to handle my first corn harvest. These are all the things I learned in my journey to growing great corn.
Also check out these corn related products!
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I must admit, this is my first real corn harvest ever. The last 4 years I have tried and failed but this year we actually did it!
You can do it too! Corn doesn’t take up a whole lot of space. It is actually a grass species and so is very durable!
Corn like water and food! Just like you. They need plenty of nitrogen rich fertilizer and they need a good drink of water nearly everyday.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN CORN IS READY TO HARVEST
- This maiden haired beauty right here is a young ear of corn growing out of the stalk. This one still needs a while before it is ready to harvest.
- When the silk is dry right about back to the ear of corn itself. This is what it looks like when it is ready or about ready to pick.
- At this point you can feel the ears of corn to check if that the kernels are all filled out.
- Your wait is over! At this point the silk has dried all the way back to your ear of corn.
- This is a good indication that your corn is ready to pick. Just one more step before we snap it off the stalk.
- This is the ultimate sign your corn has reached perfect ripeness. Pull back the husk a little ways to reveal your hard earned kernels of corn.
- Puncture one of the kernels of corn with your thumbnail. Then mush your fingernail in a little bit and get some of that juice on your thumbnail.
- If the juice is milky then it is completely ready to pick. Too watery and it needs a little longer on the stalk. If the corn is pasty then it is overly ripe!
- Corn is full of sugar and starch. You want more sugar than starch for both crispness and for taste. The more sugar, the sweeter the corn will be of course.
- When the juice is milky this means that the corn has the highest sugar content and the sugar has not converted to starch yet.
HOW TO PICK FRESH CORN
- To harvest your corn is easy! Just check for readiness and then grab your ear of corn with a firm but gentle grip.
- Proceed to rotate the ear of corn downward toward the dirt and you will hear a nice loud snap. Then bring the ear of corn back up to its original growing place and pull straight up and pop it right off the stalk.
- Most of the time harvesting is a backbreaking hard time. But, with corn it is actually very satisfying.
WHAT CAN YOU MAKE WITH FRESH CORN?
- Cook it fresh
- Corn is edible raw right off the stalk. Pick the corn, peel the husks off, wash the corn and start eating.
- Cook it by getting some water boiling. Shuck your ears of corn and place them in the boiling water. Cover and return to a boil. Boil for 5-7 minutes and serve with butter and salt.
- Corn is edible raw right off the stalk. Pick the corn, peel the husks off, wash the corn and start eating.
- Dry it whole on the cob
- After the kernels of corn have dried, remove the kernels by either rubbing 2 pieces of corn together or hammering nails into a piece of wood and rub the corn against the back of the nails. This is a trick my step-mom taught me. Grind the corn and add water. Then form and press to make fresh corn tortillas.
- After the kernels of corn have dried, remove the kernels by either rubbing 2 pieces of corn together or hammering nails into a piece of wood and rub the corn against the back of the nails. This is a trick my step-mom taught me. Grind the corn and add water. Then form and press to make fresh corn tortillas.
- Cut corn kernels off the fresh cob
- This can be eaten fresh, boiled, or fried in oil or butter.
- Make cream corn by mashing or grinding the fresh corn kernels and cook until thick and creamy. Add water if you need to.
- This can be eaten fresh, boiled, or fried in oil or butter.
- Freeze it whole
- First shuck the ears of corn. Then place them in a freezer bag or vacuum sealer and suck out all the air you can. This should last 8-12 months in the freezer.
- When you thaw the corn out, use any of the methods mentioned to process it from there.
- First shuck the ears of corn. Then place them in a freezer bag or vacuum sealer and suck out all the air you can. This should last 8-12 months in the freezer.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH CORN?
- Cut the end of the corn cob that was attached to the stalk.
- Peel the husks off down to the kernels. Use the husks fresh to make fresh tamales or, dry them out and use them in the future for tamales or for wrapping foods before you cook them.
- Save the silks
- Make tea with the fresh silks, or, dry the silks out and save them for making tea.
- Corn silk tea is very beneficial for your health. Just add 2 tbsp of dried corn silk to 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Shut off the heat and leave the corn silk to steep for 30 minutes. Strain the tea and add honey or sugar to taste.
- Make tea with the fresh silks, or, dry the silks out and save them for making tea.
- Dry the corn cob for arts and crafts
- Make a pipe by drilling 1 large hole down the core of the cob and one small hole in the side. Making sure to connect the 2 holes for draft. Drill out a spindle and shape the end so it fits in the small hole. Next, secure the 2 together with resin and you got yourself a pipe.
- Begin by drill a hole, sideways all the way through the cob and insert a piece of twine and tie the ends of the twine together. Finally, dip the cob in peanut butter or honey, roll in bird seed and hang it up outside for a good treat for birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.
- Make a pipe by drilling 1 large hole down the core of the cob and one small hole in the side. Making sure to connect the 2 holes for draft. Drill out a spindle and shape the end so it fits in the small hole. Next, secure the 2 together with resin and you got yourself a pipe.
HOW TO HARVEST FRESH CORN -EASY-
Here you will read all you need to know about harvest and preparing corn. As a beginner I was really not sure how I was going to handle my first corn harvest. These are all the things I learned in my journey to growing great corn.
Active Time
10 minutes
Total Time
10 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Materials
- Basket (optional)
Instructions
- Check to see that your corn is ripe. To tell the ripeness of corn, check the color of the silks. If the silks are brown all the way down to the cob then pull back some of the husk to reveal the kernels. Puncture one of the kernels with your thumb nail to see what color the juice inside the kernel is. If the juice is milky then it is ready to harvest. If the juice is clear, it still needs time to ripen, if it is very yellow or mushy then it is overly ripe.
- Pick corn by snapping the corn off the stalk. Do this by grabbing the ear of corn and snapping it toward the ground and then bringing it back up to its original place and pull up to remove it from the stalk.
- Eat the corn fresh or cut it off the cob. You have many options on what to do with the corn after your harvest it. Read my whole post to get a wealth of information on what to do with corn.
Notes
There are many many things you can do with corn. Corn was a staple crop for the Aztecs, Mayans and many other cultures of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Hello, my name is Eligh! born in Portland, Oregon. I am a very passionate forager, i enjoy sharing knowledge,
I like to put a spin on popular dishes and creating new dishes, using foraged foods.
i hunt, fish, raise many different kinds of animals, and have a wide variety of ways of getting my own food.
i very much enjoy plant, tree, mushroom identification and there uses for food, beverage and medicine.
follow along! as i create dishes using all of the things that grow outside your door.
I like to put a spin on popular dishes and creating new dishes, using foraged foods.
i hunt, fish, raise many different kinds of animals, and have a wide variety of ways of getting my own food.
i very much enjoy plant, tree, mushroom identification and there uses for food, beverage and medicine.
follow along! as i create dishes using all of the things that grow outside your door.
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