Perfectly ripe corn is a taste sensation.

Sweet corn that is perfectly ripe has the best flavor. Fortunately it's fairly easy to determine when it's time to pick corn.  It doesn't matter what variety of sweet corn is being grown - yellow, white or bi-color - the signs of ripeness are the same.

The first step is to hold the ear in your hand while it's still on the stalk. If it feels full, move on to the other indicators:

• Plump kernels when the husks are pulled back
• A translucent milky fluid comes out of the kernels when pierced or pressed open. If the fluid is thick and white, the corn is overripe.
• The silk at the top of the ear turns brown and dries out

If you pull back the husk and the kernels at the top of the ear are under developed, pull the husk down a bit further to expose the plump kernels and test those. Some ears of corn don't get properly fertilized so not all of the kernels develop. You can still enjoy the corn, just cut or break off the under-developed part.

If you pull back the husk and determine that the corn is not quite ready, you can secure the husk over the ear by wrapping a rubberband or string around it to hold the husk closed.

Once sweet corn starts to ripen, it's important to keep a close eye on it in order to harvest it at it's peak flavor. If you know the day the silk turns brown, a good time to check the kernels is about four days later.

As with most vegetables, knowing the variety of corn planted and saving the growing information can be very helpful because you can check the days to maturity and start looking for perfect ripeness when that day comes