Topic: When is a bean ready to use?

[nilly71]

My butter beans don't seem to be getting any fatter, they are about as bg as my thumb nail. I've never grown or even eaten them before :-\

what do the beans look like and how big should they be?

When is a Black Turtle/Black Valentine and Rattlesnake ready? They are nice and long but he beans are still white inside. Do i wait until the beans are old and brown/dead before picking?

Neil

[dtw]

For beans that are used as 'dried beans', wait until they are dry and rattly.
While the bean pods are still green, then they are still growing inside.
I suppose that would go for butter beans too, unless you want to eat them fresh.
I think that you would still need to boil them vigorously for 10-15 mins anyway.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

my butterbeans took ages to ripen last year. I ended up picking them when we had a snow shower. They were ripe though, but they didn/t dry properly and went mouldy. Should have blanched and froze. Pretty looking pods

Black Turtle beans were a waste of time. Tiny beans, never ripened, but they were planted out late

[thifasmom]

this year I'm growing a packet of ying yang that i bought on impulse ::). decided the best way to ensure they stay dry during that crucial ripening time in early autumn was to grow them under my outdoor tomato shelter,  so far working fine. only the roots get a soaking by me and the plants remain dry when it rains.

[dtw]

I'm growing those, I didn't realise they were bush beans and didn't climb the lovely bamboo structure I built. ::)

[nilly71]

Thanks for the info.
Are the butter beans white?

Neil

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

my butterbeans were all speckled. The ones from seeds of Italy - no variety name. Maybe they were Christmas lima beans or similar

[nilly71]

I'll leave them for longer and see what developes.


My Bollotti beans have finally got a couple of flowers on them ;D

Neil