This is actually my first time growing beans that i intend to save/shell. i
was wondering how i will know that they are 100% ready for such. My
assumption is that i would treat them the same as if i was saving them; ie
- leave them on the vine until the shell begins to dry out. but i may be
very wrong. any help is very much appreciated.

Joe wrote:

i
was wondering how i will know that they are 100% ready for such. My
assumption is that i would treat them the same as if i was saving them; ie
- leave them on the vine until the shell begins to dry out

Assuming you're wanting them as dry beans, you're exactly right. I wait
until the pods are dry, then store in paper grocery bags and thresh in the
winter by belaboring them stoutly with a hunk of 2X4 in a plastic pail,
occasionally lifting the empty pods off the top and shaking so the beans to
to the bottom.


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G