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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: caroline7758 on June 15, 2011, 08:00:45

Title: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: caroline7758 on June 15, 2011, 08:00:45
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?
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: pumkinlover on June 15, 2011, 08:02:48
"Lets twist again like we did last summer....."









Sorry! :-[
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: shirlton on June 15, 2011, 08:24:01
That the way we do them. Pull down firmly as you said ;D
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: Jayb on June 15, 2011, 08:41:30
I twist with a downward flick  ;D
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: artichoke on June 15, 2011, 08:55:39
After years of destroying various broad bean plants by dragging the pods off, I have taken to scissors.
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: chriscross1966 on June 15, 2011, 12:28:14
I give them a 360 degree rotation then pull down... usually works...

chrisc
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: Russell on June 15, 2011, 19:58:18
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
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: Columbus on June 15, 2011, 20:46:25
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
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: PeterVV on June 15, 2011, 21:32:26
I cut with a sharp knife, but have found that you can get them off by twisting the pods and pulling.
Title: Re: How to pick broad beans?
Post by: powerspade on June 16, 2011, 07:02:53
I snip mine with sissors