Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

CharlesB 6/22/2012, 5:32 pm

Per the recommendations of many on this forum I planted some Rattlesnake Pole Beans this year. Well, they were the first to produce. Having never grown them before I didn't know the optimal time to pick them. When do you guys pick them? When the pods reach a certain length or when the beans inside swell to a certain size?

Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans Rsnake10

Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans Rsnake10

Thanks!

Nonna.PapaVino 6/22/2012, 6:03 pm

CharlesB, depends on what you intended to get from your beans: fresh string beans or mature dried beans. My understanding is that Rattlesnake Pole Beans can go either way. If you have another variety to fix for dinner as fresh stringbeans, then pick them when they're smaller than the diameter of your little finger (about 6-7 inches) and very tender. If for shell beans, wait until the beans inside have swollen and pods are almost starting to dry. If for dried beans, leave them until the beans' shells have dried, either in the garden, or pulled and hung somewhere out of possible rain in order to dry until the pods pop open. You're a wise man, planning for every bean desired!

**camprn** 6/22/2012, 11:14 pm

I grow mine mostly for using as green beans. Those are ready for picking for green beans for the table. Or you could let them go a day or two longer and get a bit more bean development... the more you pick the more they will produce. I let several pods stay on the vine near the end of the season to dry. Those beans I will use for seed next year.

jkahn2eb 6/25/2012, 8:38 pm

I have beautiful tall plants almost six feet tall and they have been flowering for over a month... and right next to sunflowers covered with bees. However, I've found only two beans. Any suggestions? It only recently in the past week started shooting over 100 degrees but I do have a shade cloth over them.

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Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Re: Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Re: Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Re: Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Re: Harvesting Rattlesnake Pole Beans


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