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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: City Gardener... on June 24, 2005, 11:28:04

Title: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: City Gardener... on June 24, 2005, 11:28:04: HI all,

Just a quickie, I have got some Broad beans that are now about 6 inches long and as fat as your thumb... Are they ready or should I give them longer (minestrone soup is calling!!! ;D)

What are the tell-tale signs...
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: telboy on June 24, 2005, 11:29:36: Pick 'em!
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: sandersj89 on June 24, 2005, 11:41:54: Quote from: Jedi of Veg on June 24, 2005, 11:28:04
HI all,

Just a quickie, I have got some Broad beans that are now about 6 inches long and as fat as your thumb... Are they ready or should I give them longer (minestrone soup is calling!!! ;D)

What are the tell-tale signs...

If you can feel a bean through the pod then pick. One of the biggest mistakes with braod beans is leaving them too long. They then go meally and are not half as good to eat.

This is the size I pick mine at:

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/sandersj89/Garden%20June05/BroadBeanAqua.jpg)

Jerry
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: City Gardener... on June 24, 2005, 12:14:35: Cheers!

I shall harvest this evening...

Oh and Jerry, I thought I'd find a River Cottage forumer here somewhere. You'll know me as Jeff over there... ;)

Jeff
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: sandersj89 on June 24, 2005, 12:25:16: Quote from: Jedi of Veg on June 24, 2005, 12:14:35
Cheers!

I shall harvest this evening...

Oh and Jerry, I thought I'd find a River Cottage forumer here somewhere. You'll know me as Jeff over there... ;)

Jeff

Indeed I do, good to see you here as well.

Jerry
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 24, 2005, 13:10:29: You know when they are at their peak...when the mice beat you to it! :'(
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 24, 2005, 13:41:13: Pick em young n sweet!
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: Meg on June 24, 2005, 13:55:47: just keep trying them. I put some seed in October and have had quite a few meals off them. The next lot are catching up fast but not quite there.
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: kenkew on June 24, 2005, 14:30:41: Looking to pick my first lot this weekend.
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: redimp on June 24, 2005, 14:38:41: Having read this, I am going later - rain or no rain
Title: Re: When are Broad Beans ready?
Post by: ina on June 24, 2005, 16:20:30: Yes, you have to be able to feel the beans inside. Usually you can't pick all beans from each plant, if you don't feel beans inside, leave it for harvesting later. You have to check often because they mature fast once the harvesting has started.
Open a few pods you think are ready just to get the hang of feeling when they are just right. SandersJ is right, leaving them too long is such a shame.

I harvested four times from my patch and dug it over last week. Endive and lettuce are planted on it now.