Borlotti beans

[Bugeyes]

Help! I have grown borlotti beans for the first time ever and the plants are currently hung with beautiful pods (the talk of the allotments I can tell you) but when do I know they are ready to be picked?? Advice gratefully received...

[User Removed]

I have neaver grown these so i am not sure really.
Maybe try going on goggle and seaching borlotti beans
Thanks
Adam

[Lesley Jay]

Feel the pods. You will be able to feel the beans inside the pod.

[andrewo]

You can eat borlotti in two ways, when young I have been told you can eat them like runner, pod and all. Regarding when you know they are ready, it does come down to personal taste, as Lesley Jay says, 'feel the beans' (sounds like a bizarre spin off from Star Wars/Veg Wars), it's true, feel them. The size you want them is up to you but they should be a little hard. You can also leave them to form seeds for next year and for casseroles over winter, when the pods have dried out. Pick from the bottom of the plant up and you will get more beans.

[Bugeyes]

Great, thanks for the advice and I will continue to squeeze my beans on a regular basis until they make a worthwhile meal. May the beans be with you

[Lesley Jay]

I have been told that you can freeze borlotti beans. Just put the beans into the freezer - no need to blanche - and then take out a handful or two to throw straight into a stew or casserole.

[blackkitty]

Someone had to do it
http://www.storewars.org/flash/index.html
May the beans be with you.

[nick the grief]

That is superb BK !!!

[pigletwillie]

If you want to use them as "borlotti beans" for use in casseroles etc then just let them go over until the pods are brown and then pod them. You are best then to put them in a dry place in an open dish for a few weeks to completely dry before putting them in jars. If you dont dry them enough your beans will go mouldy in the jars.
You can also pod them a bit earlier, you will see the seeds bulging in the pods, and freeze them (no blanching) for use in your recipes. You will need to soak the dried beans for a few hours before use but the frozen ones can be used straight from the freezer. We grow loads of them as they take up such little room and they really are good in stews and casseroles.