When to pick broad beans

[Andy H]

What size should the first ones be picked?

Book said 2-3"  !!!!!!????

This seemed a bit small but this is the first time we have grown them and they are about 5" long

[Andy H]

[adrianhumph]

 Hi Andy,  :D
                    We like to pick the first pods small, (3 inches ) & cook the whole pod, beans inside, for 3 or 4 mins then eat the lot ;D When they get larger 6 inches or so then we pod them & just cook the beans, no need at this stage to faff about slipping off the bean skin after cooking. You only need to do this when the beans get a bit older & the skins are tougher. The empty pods make a good soup, there must be a recipe out there some where. ::)
                                                        Adrian.

[tim]

Good advice!

[allaboutliverpool]

Mine are an inch long, and as I am still overrun with purple sprouting broccoli, I will wait until they have beans inside.
Wait until the pods show the shape of the beans inside and start sqeezing them. At first the pods feel empty, even though they are quite big. Suddenly it is possible to feel the beans inside and picking them will give you the experience that no textbook can teach although you can still make mistakes. It is important to remember that you can eat ones thaare a bit small, ut if they are too big they are hopeless.

My next crop will be the peas as the pods are now about 2 inches long.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_Broad_Beans.html

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_peas.html