How do you know when to pick your corn?

Question

I heard from an older man that when the ears start pointing down then it is time to pick. He called it " dropping ears".

Answer 1

Sweet corn should be harvested at the milk stage. At this stage the silks are brown and dry at the ear tip. When punctured with a thumbnail, the soft kernels produce a milky juice. Over- mature sweet corn is tough and doughy. An immature ear will not be completely filled to the tip and the kernels produce a clear, watery liquid when punctured.
The harvest date can be estimated by noting the date of silk emergence. The number of days from silk emergence to harvest is approximately 18 to 23 days. Prime maturity, however, may be reached in 15 days or less if day and night temperatures are exceptionally warm. Most hybrid sweet corn varieties produce two ears per plant. The upper ear usually matures one or two days before the lower ear.
Sweet corn remains in the milk stage for a short time. The weather determines the length of this stage. Sweet corn remains in prime condition for only one or two days during hot (85°F and above) weather. As the sweet corn approaches maturity, check it frequently during typical summer weather to insure high quality sweet corn.

Answer 2

Or you can also call it "the starting of the dry-down stage".
That's easy if the weather is good for you. There have been some record crops from the south this year, making the price of corn to consumers very attractive!

Answer 3

when the ears of corn start to drop away from the stalk(sort of at a 30 to 45 degree angle). depending on when u've planted them too, they usually take anywhere from 3 to 4 months to fully mature. or if u've planted enough, just take on off the stalk when u "think" they're ready, tear off all the leaves and the hair and push on the corn nibbles themselves... if they "give" any or are knid of soft and yellow depending the variaty then they're ready!

Answer 4

When the silk [ hair like fibers ] are dark brown but not black, they are perfect. [ If you wait until they are black, the kernals will be chewy like horse corn ].