Stringy beans - can they be saved?

[HeyWayne]

Had some French dwarf beans for dinner tonight - but as I'd feared they were too old and really stringy.

Can I leave them on until the pods are swollen and use the beans inside, or are they destined for the compost heap?

[Flummery]

Let them stay on the plant till the pods look lumpy - till you can see the shape of the beans inside, but not till they are dry. Then shell them out - fabulous as a veg on their own (add knob of butter for sheer indulgence) or in a stew or casserole. Called shelly beans by the Americans.

[HeyWayne]

Let them stay on the plant till the pods look lumpy - till you can see the shape of the beans inside, but not till they are dry. Then shell them out - fabulous as a veg on their own (add knob of butter for sheer indulgence) or in a stew or casserole. Called shelly beans by the Americans.

Cool - that's what I was hoping for Ma, thanks. I'm guessing this works on any bean?

[Flummery]

Yes it does. Most of the French - both dwarf and climbing, are actually better like this in my opinion. I often find the green pods a bit bland. The exception is Cherokee Trail of Tears which is a fantastic green bean, like those fine filet beans they import at the cost of the earth, from Kenya.

[Comfreyfan]

We've never been that fond of french beans - until I grew them myself the last couple of years. I was surprised at how fast they grow and how many you get from each plant. I've used up my first pack of seeds so I'm looking for a gorgeous tasty bean for next year - I've seen Cherokee Trail of Tears mentioned several times, is it a lot better for use as a green bean?

[Hazel at the Hill]

The exception is Cherokee Trail of Tears which is a fantastic green bean, like those fine filet beans they import at the cost of the earth, from Kenya.

I've left them till slightly knobbly, and they are stringy - so will leave them as shelly/dried. A lesson learnt in eating as filet, I think

[Rocketron]

We've never been that fond of french beans - until I grew them myself the last couple of years. I was surprised at how fast they grow and how many you get from each plant. I've used up my first pack of seeds so I'm looking for a gorgeous tasty bean for next year - I've seen Cherokee Trail of Tears mentioned several times, is it a lot better for use as a green bean?

I pick them between 3-5" and they are very tasty. From late june onwards I still have masses which should continue until the first frosts.I've already had to freeze some as there are so many to eat.

[Alison]

I've grown Cherokee Trail of Tears the past couple of years and found them very good although this year they aren't quite as productive as my Blahilde which are next to them - possibly not as much sun though.

[nomadyane]

I had grown Blue Lake for years, but switched to Cobra, which are excellent. The beans, if you let them grow in the pod, are black - and delicious. Trouble is, the green beans are so good that only the odd pod gets to develop. I should think they'd do well in a chilli con carne sort of recipe.

I planted four beans in a container a few weeks ago, forgot them and now three have come up and are rambling up through a handy clematis. These are only now beginning to show flower buds. How late have people sown beans and got pods from them? And what about growing in a container - I've only ever grown beans in the ground. (I'm in London and the beans are on a south-facing patio, sheltered from north and east.)

Comments and advice would be welcome.

David

[Alison]

I grew some dwarf beans in a pot in the conservatory and had nice early beans from them. Will probably do the same again next year.

[Two_Sheds]

How late have people sown beans and got pods from them?

My fastest beans (Cosse Violette and Purple Queen/Teepee) have been 3 months from seed to pod