Pea Bean

[bluemoon]

I sowed a couple of wig-wams worth of pea bean (also called yin-yang bean) earlier in the summer and basically left them to get on with it. I've looked today though and although, as I would have expected, they are covered in french-bean type pods, the beans inside are a long way from ready. Are they going to do anything if I leave them a little longer, or is it too late? I want them for the dried beans.

[zazen999]

Mine aren't ready yet either.....a few are going brownish on the outside but the beans are not black inside.

Have you nipped out the tops to let them put their energies into the beans rather into more stem?

[Two_Sheds]

I've had a poor year for beans... most of mine aren't dry, so are going in the freezer as shelly beans

[Flummery]

Mine (on the new plot, so technically, the late 'his') are just beginning to dry. I brought some home today to spread on newspaper on a sunny window sill. The ones that always take longest for me are True Red Cranberry which are still very green. They got there last year though, with indoor drying.

[bluemoon]

Have you nipped out the tops to let them put their energies into the beans rather into more stem?

I hadn't, but OH has just set off for the lottie with 'instructions'. Thanks.

I'll stick with it a little longer then. I was starting to worry about frosts. We don't normally get a frost until mid- November, but had them in October last year.

[ginger ninger]

Where abouts in Yorkshire are you? I'm in Barnsley, Its very open & very high up as well (on top of hill) I grew the "ying, yang" bean last year, and it was fine left on the plant till early winter. Unless you need the room.

[womble]

Are the beans OK if left out in frosts, if you want to dry them?

None of my ying yan are going brown yet, but the plants have started to kill off all of the immature pods, so it can put all it's energy into the swollen ones.

[Two_Sheds]

Are the beans OK if left out in frosts, if you want to dry them?

No, because the weather won't be dry for much longer. As the weather cools down, so the damp sets in.
You'll soon need to cut the plants down and hang them somewhere dry to finish off.

Or, harvest the pods and dry them on sheets of newspaper somewhere.

[womble]

No, because the weather won't be dry for much longer. As the weather cools down, so the damp sets in.
You'll soon need to cut the plants down and hang them somewhere dry to finish off.

Or, harvest the pods and dry them on sheets of newspaper somewhere.

OK thanks, that sort of puts everything in place now. I suspect quite a few of my bean pods are going to be too immature to dry properly.

[Two_Sheds]

I suspect quite a few of my bean pods are going to be too immature to dry properly.

so freeze them
Boil for 10 mins when you want them: add to stews, soups etc. Lush.

[womble]

so freeze them
Boil for 10 mins when you want them: add to stews, soups etc. Lush.

I will then

Presumeably you have to boil them from frozen (or fresh) in their own water, then throw that away, then add them to the stews etc?