Allotments 4 All

How can I tell when they are edible?

when they have swelled and started to bulge  a little best picked younger rather than older sweater in taste

Hi,
Looks like you got a couple of beans ready in that pod. But I would wait until more pods are fuller than that.
I have just pulled some off to see how they are doing, and got enough for me and the OH. Kids can wait for em.

Also I am a bit shocked that you have no black fly on yours. You must be very good at keeping them away. Mine are covered and I spray with water most days.
Lucky you for having such lovely beans. :o

I was wondering when to pick too.  I opened one of mine last night but thought them a bit small but then I have never grown them before.

Does anyone have a pic of the actual bean please for reference.

ps. I've not got black fly either - thought I was getting them but now clear.

Just put these in the pan ready for tonight.

Hmm don't think mine are quite that big yet - maybe a couple of days......

The only way you can really tell is by opening a pod.

This will give you an idea of how the will look on the plant;



And ths is how they looked when picked, i.e. you can see the ripple on the pod caused by the bean inside.

If it is more pronounced than this the odds are you beans are a bit 'overdone'



nb To give an idea of size ;as I recall these boards are 3" (75mm) wide

TG,
I am jealous of you. Not a sign of black fly, where am I going wrong?
I spray to get them off and yet them come back for more.
I think I will have to cover them as I do with my cabbages.

I have not done anything to deter black fly! Just lucky, I guess!

Can you boil them in water in the microwave? (Just curious!)

Not tried but will have a go.

Another view - I like them very young.

1. Not up to TG's standard, but they were 6' tall & got blown down! But no fly.

2. It's the bumps that count.

3. 4 1/2" long. Note the quickest way to pod - unzip them first with a potato peeler.

QuoteI am jealous of you.

No need to be its taken me nigh on forty years to master these

Quote
Not a sign of black fly, where am I going wrong?

Two things I guess!

Timing I think when I sow and plant out has a bearing on my success.

Plus I am not greedy! five sets of flowers is enough.

If I go for six !!  sods law says I get blackfly.



I spray to get them off and yet them come back for more.

A good tip thankyou about the potato peeler.  My  thumb was objecting after shelling several pounds.   I never had such a bumper crop. 

I just feel the pod. Sometimes they can look very fat but have nowt in em. I think I have perfected the art of broad bean detecting  ;D.We don't like them too big anyway

.Oh, of course - a feel as well. So often it's a bubble.

Dont the beans that are ready to be picked hang down?.....or is it my imagination?

Im growing them...but I dont eat them..Yuk!...I grow for a neighbour.


Read somewhere that some people pick them when theyn are very young,not much bigger than pea pods and they eat the whole thing!

Probably the tastiest way!

Same like Sugar Snap Peas.

Quote from: Cosmo and Dibs on July 09, 2009, 17:24:09

Can you boil them in water in the microwave? (Just curious!)

Yes, you can microwave but you need to be careful you don't overdo them.  An exploded broad bean is a wasted broad bean!

I shell them, put them in a covered pyrex dish with enough water to cover the bottom of the dish and zap them on high for 3 - 4 minutes for two good handfuls of beans.

You might need to experiment with quantities / duration to suit your microwave, how well done you like them and the quantity you are cooking.   

QuoteDont the beans that are ready to be picked hang down?.....

Not necessarily.  My masterpiece green long pod hang down, but red flowered always point up.

If the eye on the top of the beans goes dark I think it is too late.

Blackfly - put the beans still in the packet in the freezer for a couple of weeks before sowing.  Even better put packet outside but keep them dry and ensure they get several frosty nights.  I heard it years ago on a gardens question time, has always worked for me.  Loads of broad beans around our allotment site, but only two of my plants have a problem, has not spread to the others.  Have not pinched out many tops.

Quoteput the beans still in the packet in the freezer for a couple of weeks before sowing.  Even better put packet outside but keep them dry and ensure they get several frosty nights.

A new one on me  ???

What does it achieve and what is its connection with blackfly?