How to pick broad beans?

[caroline7758]

Seems like a silly question, I know. I read that you should pick them by pulling down firmly, but I've found this tends to strip the stem, which can't be good. How do you do it? Scissors? Twisting?

[caroline7758]

[pumkinlover]

"Lets twist again like we did last summer....."









Sorry! :-[

[shirlton]

That the way we do them. Pull down firmly as you said ;D

[Jayb]

I twist with a downward flick  ;D

[artichoke]

After years of destroying various broad bean plants by dragging the pods off, I have taken to scissors.

[chriscross1966]

I give them a 360 degree rotation then pull down... usually works...

chrisc

[Russell]

The majority of my crop I pick by a method which while destructive is kind to my back.
1 Sever the tops at ground level with a sharp spade.
2 Collect and bag the haulms and pods without further ado
3 Get deck chair under Wisteria pergola and adjust for comfort
4 Ensure glass of beer within easy reach
5 Separate the haulms from the pods how you like
6 Immediately plant new crop to utilise decaying nitrogenous roots in former bean bed

[Columbus]

Hi Caroline, Hi all  :)

Like Artichoke I have found I tend to damage plants if I start pulling and twisting,
so I snip them off with secateurs.  Sometimes I do the same with tomatos.

Col

[PeterVV]

I cut with a sharp knife, but have found that you can get them off by twisting the pods and pulling.

[powerspade]

I snip mine with sissors