Popcorn, flour and flint corn varieties are left on the stalk far longer than sweetcorn, and by late September the husks have usually turned brown and papery while the kernels harden underneath. Picking now and hanging the ears to finish drying under cover turns a few rows of corn into a dry store that keeps for months, ready to pop or grind through the winter.

Harvest and Dry Popcorn or Flour Corn for Storage

What you need

1 ball garden twine for tying husks into hanging bunches
4 mesh bags or old pillowcases alternative to hanging by the husk
2 large airtight jars or bins for the dried, shelled kernels
1 roll paper labels or masking tape to mark variety and date

Step by step

Check each ear before picking: husks papery and starting to brown, kernels hard when pressed through the husk with a thumbnail. Leave any still soft and pale for another week.
10 min
Snap or twist each ripe ear downward off the stalk; use secateurs on any stem that resists rather than tearing the husk.
30 min
Peel the husks back without pulling them off, then tie four or five ears together by the husks with garden twine to make a hanging bunch, trimming the ends with scissors.
25 min
Hang the bunches, or loose ears in mesh bags, somewhere dry, shaded and airy - a shed, porch or garage - with gaps between them so air reaches every ear.
15 min
Check weekly: press a kernel with a thumbnail on a few ears from different bunches. It should dent, not squash, when ready. Popcorn varieties should test-pop cleanly from a dry pan.
10 min
Once dry, usually after two to four weeks, shell the kernels by twisting two cobs against each other over a tray, or by hand for smaller batches.
45 min
Pick out any shrivelled, discoloured or insect-holed kernels before they go into storage.
15 min
Pack the shelled kernels into airtight jars or bins, label with variety and date, and store somewhere cool, dark and rodent-proof.
10 min

Afterwards

Sweep up loose husks and silk from the drying area, since they attract mice as much as the corn does. Check stored jars monthly for condensation on the inside of the glass, a sign kernels weren't fully dry, and tip that batch out to dry further. Well-dried kernels in a sealed container keep for at least a year.

Questions

Can I dry sweetcorn the same way?

Not really - sweetcorn is bred to be eaten fresh and its kernels shrivel and lose flavour when dried. It's only worth doing this with popcorn, flour and flint varieties.

What if frost arrives before the corn is fully dry?

Pick the ears anyway once the husks have started to brown. Unfinished drying can continue indoors, it just takes longer and needs closer watching for mould.

How do I know popcorn is dry enough to pop well?

Test-pop a small handful in a dry pan. If most kernels pop, the batch is ready; if many are left unpopped, give it another week or two.

Can I save some kernels to grow next year?

Yes - set aside dried, healthy ears from your best plants and keep that seed corn separate from your eating stock so it doesn't get shelled or cooked by mistake.