I released the ties to the stakes and now I have them resting against the side of the garage. There is actually two corn stalks tied together. I was finally able to get a descent measurement now that they are against the garage. They are both about 26 feet long. This way I don't have to worry about the wind, and I can throw blankets over them from the garage roof if we get a frost. I was able to check for tassles and I couldn't find any in the top leaf whorl. Many small leaves have not extended yet; so with some luck with the weather and I might get them up a few more feet.