When to pick?

Weedless_ 5/25/2012, 10:46 am

I am growing pole beans for the first time this year.
I am growing Marvel of Venice (yellow), and a similar variety called Garden of Eden (green). I am hearing different opinions on when to pick them. Some suggest pick them before they turn yellow because they get tough, some say wait til they turn yellow. Since these beans are stringless, I don't think "toughness" is a consideration, I am mostly concerned with best flavor.
Anyone had experience with either variety? If so, please provide your suggestions soon, since my beans are almost ready. Thanks!

curio 5/25/2012, 2:01 pm

Most beans are best if picked before the seeds inside start to bulge. The more immature they are, the more tender. I try to pick most pole beans of the "green" bean varieties when they are roughly 3-4" long and the seeds inside are barely visible as little bumps.
If you let them get too mature, they WILL get woody and tough, whether they are considered stringless or not.

Weedless_ 5/25/2012, 6:40 pm

Thanks for the advice. I have ventured out and found a lot more than I expected Smile

. Some of them are obviously not ready yet, but those that turned pale or yellow, I definitely got both on bush and pole ones.

littlejo 5/25/2012, 8:28 pm

I haven't grown either of those varieties but have grown bush and pole types.

Stringless and toughnes are two different things. You can eat the 'string' but you cannot cook the toughnes out of a greenbean.

I think a taste test is in order! Go to the garden, pick 1 you think is ready, and taste it, good and crunchy. Pick the first 1 that turns yellow, eat it. If it is still good, sweet and crunchy, then you'll be fine waiting till they turn yellow.

If you have any leftover from the taste test, then you could cook them!

Jo

Weedless_ 5/25/2012, 9:32 pm

Here are the beanies I harvested today, plus some yummy squashes.
When to pick? 7270268858_0aed13729a_z

GWN 5/25/2012, 10:28 pm

.

I have ventured out and found a lot more than I expected

I have always found that to be the way with beans, they sneak up on you.

What are those squash the two toned ones? They look interesting

littlejo 5/25/2012, 10:33 pm

The beans look great! They will improve as the season progresses.

May I ask what kind of squash is that? Appears to be 2 colors. Jo

Weedless_ 5/25/2012, 10:36 pm

Yes, it's a bi-color hybrid (I don't typically do hybrids, but this I like), called Zephyr

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