Harvesting Beans for Drying?

countrynaturals 9/4/2017, 12:07 pm

I have several variety of beans that I'm growing for dried beans over the winter to use in soups. So, do I leave them on the vine until they dry up or harvest sooner and let them dry inside, somehow? geek

**AtlantaMarie** 9/4/2017, 1:57 pm

Leave them till you can hear them rattling in the pod. Then shuck & dry the rest of the way.

countrynaturals 9/4/2017, 5:41 pm

AtlantaMarie wrote:Leave them till you can hear them rattling in the pod. Then shuck & dry the rest of the way.

Perfect! Thanks, Marie! thanks

countrynaturals 9/14/2017, 1:30 pm

I thought we had a "harvesting" thread, but I can't find it, so this will have to do. Here is my "bountiful" Rolling Eyes

cowpea crop. If we can't tell the difference between these and store-bought, I may not grow them again. Anyone else grow peas/beans for drying? Is it worth it to you?

Here's the harvest. I planted enough to try. If they're good, I can give them more space next year.
Harvesting Beans for Drying? Cowpea11

Here's the first one. Razz

They got bigger after that. Rolling Eyes

**sanderson** 9/14/2017, 6:14 pm

**sanderson** 9/5/2018, 1:24 am

I think I messed up with these pink eyed beans. I picked them while still green when they should have been dry. ???

yolos 9/5/2018, 9:22 am

sanderson wrote:I think I messed up with these pink eyed beans. I picked them while still green when they should have been dry. ???

No, No those look perfect to me. I prefer fresh cowpeas (not beans) just like in your picture. You can cook or blanch/freeze these just like they are. I never let my cowpeas dry unless I mess up in harvesting them or if they keep coming ripe a few at a time. You only need them to dry if you are going to store them without freezing or canning. They are also good dried if you are going to cook them in soup/stew.

**sanderson** 9/5/2018, 10:14 am

Blanch and ice chill a minute each before freezing?

yolos 9/5/2018, 1:35 pm

sanderson wrote:

Blanch and ice chill a minute each before freezing?

The chart I am using (and 2 other charts that I just reviewed) says blanch peas-field (as an example blackeye peas) for 2 minutes. So that is what I have been using to blanch and chill.

**sanderson** 9/6/2018, 2:40 am

Sponsored content

Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Cowpeas (Black-Eyed Peas)

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?

Re: Harvesting Beans for Drying?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.