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Is It Ripe?
Sweet corn
4:00 am Aug 20 - by Page Roth – buzz Writer
Now that corn season has reached its height, it takes only a quick peek at our stalk-filled landscape to see how well this local vegetable thrives. For gardeners who have planted sweet corn, it’s important to be aware of the small window when this tasty mid-western treat is ripe.
When sweet corn is ready to be harvested, the ends of the tassels will begin to turn brown. Another way to gauge ripeness is to see if an ear is in its “milk-stage,” in which kernels release a milky-white liquid when pierced. Under-ripe ears will have kernels that release translucent, or watery liquid, while overripe kernels will be hard, or doughy. The milk stage lasts for less than a week, and once the ear is picked, it loses its sweetness within moments as the sugar breaks down into starch. So the sweetest ear of corn is one that you grow in your own backyard.
However, if you don’t happen to have your own tall and tidy sweet corn plot growing nearby, don’t be discouraged. Urbana’s Farmer’s Market provides freshly-picked, local sweet corn. Also, be sure to check out the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival, happening next weekend in downtown Urbana.
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