Corn and cucumbers-How do you tell when they are ready for harvest?

Question

This is my first garden. I was wondering how do you tell when the corn and the cucumbers are ready to pick? Anyone know?

Answer 1

CORN IS READY WHEN IT STARTS TO TURN YELLOW BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT TOO LONG, IT WILL BE CHEWY. PERSONALLY I WOULDN'T WAIT TILL IT'S BROWN AT THE TOP AND FOR SURE DON'T WAIT TILL THE GREEN TURNS YELLOW. BY THEN IT WILL BE POPCORN! YOU CAN PEAL BACK THE TOP OF THE HUSK AND SEE IF IT'S A PALE YELLOW, IF SO IT WILL BE TENDER AND TASTE GREAT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T COOK IT TO DEATH.

CUKES ARE READY WHEN THEY HAVE A LITTLE SIZE TO THEM. IF YOU WAIT TOO LONG THEN THEY WILL BE TOO BIG AND SEEDY BUT YOU CAN STILL EAT THEM.

Answer 2

For corn, look at the silks on top of the ears. For the corn to be mature, the silks should be dark brown, almost gray. They should no longer be yellow or red at the ends. If the silks look dark brown and are dry, the corn is probably almost ready. Feel the silks just as they come out of the tops of the ears. If the silks are still quite moist, the corn still isn't ready, but as the silks dry out, the moment will be at hand. But don't wait too long, or the corn will be overripe and not as sweet. It won't hurt to try taking an ear or two early, while the silks are turning brown and aren't quite dry yet, just to be sure you don't wait too long.

As for cucumbers, it all depends on the variety. The key is not to wait too long. You want cucumbers that are young and tender, and not balloonish with big hard seeds. But the size of a mature cucumber depends on the variety. For pickling types, it might be a 2-3 inches, but for slicing cucumbers, 6-7 inches might be mature. If you don't recall what you planted, try picking one as soon as it gets to be 5 inches or so, slice it, and see what you think. You'll need to determine then if you waited too long, or if you needed to wait longer still.

Answer 3

Corn, just peel back the husk and check a couple. The silk is dark brown at the top.

Cucumbers just look like cucumbers. If you want them so that you do not have to peel them to put in salads, pick them young and small.

If you are growing cucumbers on vines on the ground, you can take a large bottle, like a wine or whiskey bottle, and lay it on the ground and when the cucumber is still tiny, stick it gently down into the bottle. It will grow there, and you will end up with a huge cucumber in a bottle with a tiny opening. Pour vinegar in to preserve it. Good conversation piece!

Answer 4

check out cucumbers in the store that will give you an idea of how big they should be, as for the corn usually when they are about a foot long and the hair turns brown but, be sure the squirrels don't get it before you do and check for red ants before taking them in the house

Answer 5

You can harvest corn when all the leaves turned yellowe from green and the husk also turns yellow. For cucumber you can harvest it if you hear a hallow sound while tapping.

Answer 6

I haven't grown much corn, but cucumbers are pretty much a
matter of personal preference. I prefer them smaller ,but depending on the variety you plant and what you want to do with them , pick them anytime after they are a few inches long.