When to pick runners?

[Littlemouse]

Just wondering whether it is possible to be picking runner beans too soon.

I saw some on sale in Sainsbury today and they were about 10 inches long - now that might be that particular variety - but it made me think.

I'm a newbie to growing veg and full of doubts about everything...

[OllieMartin]

I got over excited and picked a load of mine the other day, they ranged from 3in to 12in, but there was no difference in flavour. After consulting the packet it suggested they can grow to 20in. Seems to me that you might as well leave them to get the maximum length. However remember that picking them will result in a second cropping, so you may get some benefit picking them a little early.

The other thing I found is that if you pick them small, by the time you've peeled the stringy edges off, you can be left with very little edible pod.

[rustylady]

I got over excited and picked a load of mine the other day, they ranged from 3in to 12in, but there was no difference in flavour. After consulting the packet it suggested they can grow to 20in.
The other thing I found is that if you pick them small, by the time you've peeled the stringy edges off, you can be left with very little edible pod.

If you pick them at three to twelve inches, there shouldn't be any stringy edges. I usually try to pick mine around 12 inches, but definitely before you can see any bulges where the seeds are.

[Sanjo]

Pick them before you can see the bean forming inside (it will raise the outside level a bit) and while there is still a matt finish to them. Once the bean starts to swell and they start to have a sheen they are well past their best.
Depending on the strain you have grown the length will vary. I always grow Enorma. They are rarely stringy, have a good flavour and they grow really long. I picked another 4lbs today, had some for dinner this evening and prepared the others by blanching and then freezing them. They won't be a patch on the real thing but come the winter I might welcome a bit of homegrown green on my plate!!
They are also (in my humble opinion!!) very nice taken off the plant and eaten straight away. Lovely and crisp and juicy!!

[taff]

Sainssburys have courgettes all year round, and it won't be due to the variety, so you can feel safe in the knowledge that their beans are not coming from the same place yours are.
Take a look at the herb packets sometime [ don't know if they do the same for the beans] but they'll have the grower and their location on there, Israel is not uncommon.

[piskieinboots]

pick them small or, at the very least, before you see beans forming

Can someone come and help me eat my runner beans please? when I sown and subsequently transplanted the little darlings I had a big chap to feed, now the big chap is being fed elsewhere and won't be back until long after the beans are worm food!

[taff]

why not freeze them? or cutney them?

[taff]

or even chutney...

[Comfreyfan]

Have you got the recipe for cutney? I've heard it's perfect for 40ml jars!

[Flummery]

I really don't like runners - I can eat them (hell I eat anything!) but the roughness puts me off. However, when I did grow them, I always picked them smaller rather than larger. More tneder to my taste. If you get carried away (or don't get round to picking them fast enough) leave them to get lumpy and use the beans shelled. Very nice in a chilli!

[piskieinboots]

why not freeze them? or cutney them?

done that

or even chutney...

and that

Have you got the recipe for cutney? I've heard it's perfect for 40ml jars!

norty step is that way ----->

[taff]

aparently, it's just like chutney, only more finely chopped...