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HI all,

Just a quickie, I have got some Broad beans that are now about 6 inches long and as fat as your thumb... Are they ready or should I give them longer (minestrone soup is calling!!! ;D)

What are the tell-tale signs...

Pick 'em!

Quote from: Jedi of Veg on June 24, 2005, 11:28:04
HI all,

Just a quickie, I have got some Broad beans that are now about 6 inches long and as fat as your thumb... Are they ready or should I give them longer (minestrone soup is calling!!! ;D)

What are the tell-tale signs...

If you can feel a bean through the pod then pick. One of the biggest mistakes with braod beans is leaving them too long. They then go meally and are not half as good to eat.

This is the size I pick mine at:




Jerry

Cheers!

I shall harvest this evening...

Oh and Jerry, I thought I'd find a River Cottage forumer here somewhere. You'll know me as Jeff over there... ;)

Jeff

Quote from: Jedi of Veg on June 24, 2005, 12:14:35
Cheers!

I shall harvest this evening...

Oh and Jerry, I thought I'd find a River Cottage forumer here somewhere. You'll know me as Jeff over there... ;)

Jeff

Indeed I do, good to see you here as well.

Jerry

You know when they are at their peak...when the mice beat you to it! :'(

Pick em young n sweet!

just keep trying them. I put some seed in October and have had quite a few meals off them. The next lot are catching up fast but not quite there.

Looking to pick my first lot this weekend.

Having read this, I am going later - rain or no rain

Yes, you have to be able to feel the beans inside. Usually you can't pick all beans from each plant, if you don't feel  beans inside, leave it for harvesting later. You have to check often because they mature fast once the harvesting has started.
Open a few pods you think are ready just to get the hang of feeling when they are just right. SandersJ is right, leaving them too long is such a shame.

I harvested four times from my patch and dug it over last week. Endive and lettuce are planted on it now.