When to pick the corn?

"Sweet corn ears should be picked during the "milk stage" when the kernels are fully formed but not fully mature. This stage occurs about 20 days after the appearance of the first silk strands. The kernels are smooth and plump and the juice in the kernel appears milky when punctured with a thumbnail. Sweet corn remains in the milk stage less than a week. As harvest time approaches, check frequently to make sure that the kernels do not become too mature and doughy. Other signs that indicate when the corn is ready for harvest are drying and browning of the silks, fullness of the tip kernels and firmness of the unhusked ears." Source

Shucky darn

Something got to this corn ear; and it was nice and ripe; what few kernels were left.  As we started to peel of husks; we found a little bitty hole that went all the way in.  I'm guessing it was a worm.  No sign of a worm, but crawling in ants; so the ants honed in on our intended yummy sweetness. 

"Corn earworms are a problem in sweet corn every year. Earlier plantings are not badly infested in areas where the pest does not overwinter, but later harvests usually have severe earworm damage unless timely control measures are followed. Corn earworms deposit eggs on the developing silks or on the leaves near the ear. The tiny caterpillars follow the silks down into the ear, where they feed on the tip. Only one corn earworm will be found per ear because the caterpillars are cannibalistic, with the largest devouring any others present. Once the worm is inside the protective husk covering, there is no effective control. Anything that restricts the worm-such as tightening the tip of the husk with a rubber band or clothespin after the silk appears, or inserting mineral oil (1/2 medicine dropperful) in the silk tube-helps to decrease the damage."

The corn information page from Univ of Illinois ext is quite informative.  So, we should look for ripe corn 20 days are so after the tassels are fertilized. 

Totally brown tassels

New tassels & partially brown tassels

This last picture suffers from perspective.  My garden stool is busted, must go visit Manoj and see if he can fix it up for me.  One section of the seat part came unstitched.  So, I can't get down to eye level of the corn.   

Oh, and corn seeds are on the list of officially very easy to germinate and grow.  Will probably germinate just fine in ground.  These are the little buggers that I planted out a few days ago after the dastardly demon had his way with them.

Baby Corn

This is a picture of the opened up corn husk we pulled from the plant above.  It felt firm; not smooshy like the ant infested one; but it is not ready.  It's hard to tell from the photo; but the kernels are not "full" and they are lime green more than white/yellow.

Immature husk

So to conclude, plant more baby corn at one time.  Plant in succession.  Equip a dropper bottle of mineral oil and carry around in garden stool.  (get garden stool repaired) Mark calendar for 20 days after tassels appear.  Don't pluck until the tassels are fully brown.

More on protecting the corn crop:

Corn Earworm Control: Fall and spring tilling helps by exposing the pupae to wind, weather and predators. Use pheromone traps to determine the main flight period for moths, then release trichogramma wasps to destroy eggs. Beneficial insects, such as lacewings, minute pirate bugs and damsel bugs feed on corn earworm eggs and small larvae. Spray or inject silks weekly with Beneficial Nematodes to control larvae. Apply Dipel Dust (Bacillus thuringiensis) or Monterey Garden Insect Spray (spinosad) to silks at 5-10% formation and continue weekly until tassels turn brown. Use botanical insecticides if pest levels become intolerable.

Tip: Squeeze an eyedropper full of mineral oil into the tip of each infested ear to suffocate feeding larvae. Some gardeners will include a botanical insecticide to this mix as an added punch.  Source