In article ,
David Stokes wrote:

Someone gave me a few sweetcorn plants that were surplus to their
requirements. I've planted them but as with most surplus plants they
probably went in a bit later than optimum.
They have grown well and the one flower on each are just beginning to
show but not yet open. I don't know whether they are too late to
produce crops and so dig them up?
What stage should they be at?

Now that I know a little more about sweetcorn I can add that it is only the
male flowers at the top that are visible (but not yet open). The female
flowers, from which the cobs develop, are not yet visible at all.

They won't ripen, anyway, but you don't want them to. Sweetcorn is
known as green mealies in southern Africa, precisely because it is
eaten unripe. You may be in luck, if there is some decent weather
in September, so I recommend leaving them.

If yours have male flowers visible, they are only a fortnight behind
mine, which went in at an appropriate time.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.