Broadback wrote in news:ktfu6t$qi9$1@dont-
email.me:

How do you tell if the above are ready to harvest?


It all depends how you want to eat them.
Some people like the pod (with tiny developing beans inside)
Others like them with small beans inside.
Others like the whole pod and mature bean.
Others like just the mature bean inside the pod and dry them for stews I
think.

What state are yours in? How do you like them?
Mine are long gone, we have eaten them all.

Hope this helps.
Baz

On 02/08/2013 13:17, Baz wrote:
Broadback wrote in news:ktfu6t$qi9$1@dont-
email.me:

How do you tell if the above are ready to harvest?


It all depends how you want to eat them.
Some people like the pod (with tiny developing beans inside)
Others like them with small beans inside.
Others like the whole pod and mature bean.
Others like just the mature bean inside the pod and dry them for stews I
think.

What state are yours in? How do you like them?
Mine are long gone, we have eaten them all.

Hope this helps.
Baz

Smallish pods at the moment. I wish to eat them in the pod, however I
know that runner beans go coarse and stringy if left for long, are
french beans similar?

In article ,
Broadback wrote:

Smallish pods at the moment. I wish to eat them in the pod, however I
know that runner beans go coarse and stringy if left for long, are
french beans similar?

Yes. I recommend picking them just as the actual beans start to form,
but you will have to decide by trial and error. Pick a couple of the
oldest-looking and see.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Broadback wrote in
:

On 02/08/2013 13:17, Baz wrote:
Broadback wrote in
news:ktfu6t$qi9$1@dont- email.me:

How do you tell if the above are ready to harvest?


It all depends how you want to eat them.
Some people like the pod (with tiny developing beans inside)
Others like them with small beans inside.
Others like the whole pod and mature bean.
Others like just the mature bean inside the pod and dry them for
stews I think.

What state are yours in? How do you like them?
Mine are long gone, we have eaten them all.

Hope this helps.
Baz

Smallish pods at the moment. I wish to eat them in the pod, however I
know that runner beans go coarse and stringy if left for long, are
french beans similar?


No, I don't think that they go stringy. The pods go tough though. So I
would grab some now and cook to sample them.
Leave 6-10 pods on a plant for seed next year if you save seed.

Good luck.
Baz

there's two types, round pod and flat pod. The answer depends on which type you grow. I grow the round pod ones, and I pick them when they're fat and round and distinctly bumpy. I've never known them to be anything but tender.

Baz wrote:
Mine are long gone, we have eaten them all.

Blimey, you must have got them in early. Mine have been in for ages
and only just started being anywhere near ready

Victoria Conlan wrote in news:b62bkiFrge1U1
@mid.individual.net:

Baz wrote:
Mine are long gone, we have eaten them all.

Blimey, you must have got them in early. Mine have been in for ages
and only just started being anywhere near ready


I always sow them inside in April, and then plant them out in a full sun
position, after hardening them off, in the middle of May. That gives a
month head start I think, as opposed to sowing the seed outside.
I do exactly the same with runner beans, but the French beans are always
pickable way before the runner beans.
We have had runner beans for about a week now. We like them young, just the
pod 6" long.

Baz