confused about harvesting dried beans

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indianabanana Madison, IN(Zone 6b) Jul 16, 2012

I've always seen two pieces of advice about harvesting dried beans (in my case, black turtle beans):

1. Harvest often, to encourage the plant to produce more.
2. Let the bean pods dry on the vine before you pick them.

Both of these things make a lot of sense. #1 was certainly true with my pea vines this year. But last year, when I grew beans for the first time, I noticed that it took so long for the beans to dry on the vine that I couldn't harvest very many times before the season was over. I didn't get many beans.

How do you successfully combine these two principles?

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podster Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 16, 2012

Good question! I've wondered the same as I am waiting on some limas.

Those two statements are conflicting. I would suspect the way to do it would be to leave a few plants to go to seed and harvest the rest of the beans to eat. At least that is what I am inclined to do... Kristi

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 16, 2012

Black Turtle is normally used as a dried bean. These you let dry on the vine, usually a once over harvest. Harvest often is used primarily for snap beans, where the tender pod is used before beans form. While Black Turtle as with with most beans can be used as snaps, quality is not good for that purpose. Even as a green shellie, harvest often does not work well.

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 17, 2012

I've grown "Black Turtle Beans" and left them to dry on the vine. Just follow what Farmerdill said - that's the way I did it, too.

Personally, I've decided to purchase organic black turtle beans in the supermarket - much less work. LOL

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TXbabybloomer Dayton, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 23, 2012

We leave our black turtle beans on the vines till dry, then pick them all at once. Only problem we've had - some mature and dry faster than others. Right now we have a second 'volunteer' crop of them growing, from those that exploded before we harvested the crop.. lol We look at it as a win win problem!!

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dervish2 White Plains, CT(Zone 6b) Aug 26, 2012

Does the same 'leave to dry on the vine' apply to scarlet runner beans? My plants are finally forming beans after flowering for months.

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 26, 2012

If you want dry beans , yes.

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greenstubbs Vacaville, CA Sep 02, 2012

Being a Bean subject, I only do green beans "Ky.&Blue lakes. What I've done is just harvest throught the season as they ripen, or till your sick of or have any more room for them. Then towards the end of the season i'll just let whats left go and dry on the vine as the plant starts to die down, harvest those when dry and brown. Good Luck

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