I can't see where it would make a difference either way. If you need the space right away to grow more plants I would cut them down.

Greg
Southern Nevada

I wait and do them mostly all at once. But I do them right away after they are through as I chop them up and rot them in place. The warm weather in August will rot them very quickly if they are chop mowed as soon as the stalks dry[after hand chopping].

I cut the early ones down right away -- this year and the past couple of years I've had early corn planted in the greenhouse by mid-April at the latest, and it was done and gone by the end of July. Then, I can replant some fall crop there.

The later stuff just depends on when I find the time. It doesn't hurt to leave it for later as long as you get them out of there before winter.

I also use mine as mulch around things -- I generally spread them out single layer and then put other organic mulch on top, usually leaves. I don't chop mine up, and they are all gone by the next spring except for a few pieces of the thickest part of the stalk, and even these are soft and brittle.

Mine are crowded in a small space so I cut them down when I pick to conserve soil water and get more light to the remaining plants. It also makes finding the remaining ears easier.

How I do it just depends on my time and the circumstances. I found a couple of ears on some harvested corn near ground level with smut starting on it. So, I got it out of there quickly because leaving it stand could increase the probability of innoculating the soil.