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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: aquilegia on May 17, 2005, 09:25:22

Title: harvesting beans?
Post by: aquilegia on May 17, 2005, 09:25:22
What size should my broadies be when I harvest them? Some of the pods are looking rather large! :D

And how about French Beans? I know this might sound a bit premature to ask now, but one of the pods is now about 3-4in long! (and still on my living room windowsill ::))

Patience... I need more of that!
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: osprey480 on May 17, 2005, 10:32:34
Hello aqueligia,
with broad beans the pods form first and then the beans mature gradually in their nice warm bed. Your beans inside at the moment will probably be small, some people will pick them like that. I prefer to leave them untill I can feel them by gently squeezing the pods, I like mine mature. I sometimes pick one just to check on size of beans inside.
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: Doris_Pinks on May 17, 2005, 12:37:03
Aqui, you can pick them small and eat them whole! Or wait a while and just do the beans ;D  I usually just pull one off and open it up!

Have to say, I want to come back in my next life as a broad bean, that has to be the most comfortable looking  bed to snuggle in! ;D
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: kitty on May 17, 2005, 15:10:33
mmmmm...so furry and warm-s'wat being a kitten must be like ;D
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: Trillium on May 17, 2005, 15:42:59
Harvesting?  My broad beans haven't even flowered yet!  Everything seemed to stop when May's cold spell hit.  Could also be because they're not far from a wall so they don't get the sun till 11am.  I didn't sow till Feb though - but I'm sure I was eating them this time last year from a spring sowing? 


Is anyone else feeling left behind on the bean front?

Trillium
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: aquilegia on May 17, 2005, 15:46:33
Thanks all.

THis evening I will be the one feeling up broad bean pods!

I might just harvest that one french bean too and share it with Mr Aqui! (I just can't wait to eat something I've grown this year!)

Trillium - these are my autumn sown broadies. The spring sown ones (sown indoors in march, hardened off april and planted out end of april) are just starting to flower.
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 17, 2005, 23:06:31
My autumn sown broadies are covered in pods, but they are still tiny.  I love broadbeans, small and tender, or huge and strongly flavoured!  Just pod them, then blanch them, then peel that hard outer skin off and YUMSKY!  You know, they are great cold in a sanger, with plenty of butter.
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: chrispea27 on May 18, 2005, 07:15:01
My autumn sown beans are still very small will I be able to resist till they grow! ???
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: Granny_Smith on May 18, 2005, 08:41:14
We had our first ones for lunch on Sunday !!!
Title: Re: harvesting beans?
Post by: aquilegia on May 19, 2005, 09:49:04
Well I had a good feel and the beans in some of the pods seem to be about the right size. So friday night's dinner will include broadies and french beans! can't wait. (assuming something doesn't eat them first!)