CORN Pick corn when the silk turns dark and starts to shrivel. The kernels should be bright, plump, and milky. This stage occurs about 20 days after the appearance of the first silk strands. Corn is at its prime eating quality for only 72 hours before becoming overmature. A cucumber is at its highest quality when it is uniformly dark green, firm, and crisp.
Cucumbers are past their prime if they are large, dull, puffy, and yellow.
Remove old fruits from the vine so that young fruits will develop. The fruits are overmature when they become dull, soft, and seedy. Use a knife or pruning shears to cut the fruit off the plant. Leave the green calyx attached to the fruit. Place the bulbs on screens to dry.