How big before you pick broad beans?

[Bramble_killer]

err... Having never grown broad beans and never having podded them

How big do you let yours grow before you pick them? How fat do you let them get? we have some about 5 inches long and quite fat.

Many thanks

[Tam]

It's really up to you. Some people even pick tiny broad bean pods and cook them pods and all. Most are picked before reaching full size as young beans are sweeter. I quite like the last beans that have been missed and have much thicker skins - more to chew on!

[Gwen11ian]

That depends.

I like mine young and sweet.. with the bean about the size of a kidney bean. Chop an onion and fry over medium heat until it's nearly translucent.. then pop your beans right out of the pod into the pan. Add a small handful of fresh chopped mint and cook over the medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Yummy.

Or you could leave them till they're nice and fat, but you will have to blanch the beans to remove the outer skin. Someone else will have to give you advice with them though.. I've got a tiny plot, with only about ten plants.. so they never stay on the plant to that stage! Once they're a good size they're straight into the kitchen.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Oh Bk, there is nothing quite as amazing as unpodding Broad Beans! You crack the pod open and inside is this wonderful, thick, soft white 'duvet' cradling the beans...

The key word in the above paragraph was 'thick'. The pods may look like they contain enormous beans, but that thick lining can be quite deceptive and the beans inside may still only be teeny tiny. The only real way to guage if they are ready is to pick one average sized pod and open it there-and-then so you can judge what the rest of the crop is doing. Generally speaking I like mine beans to be about 1cm long, then I blanch, freeze and use them in risottos! Yummy!!

[chris]

Sorry - but why does everyone seem to blanch before freezing? - and by blanch do you mean a quick bout in rapidly boiling water
?

[Alison]

I don't blanch, you're supposed to do it to kill enzymes or something but I've never found the need and prefer the taste and texture of my veg if I've not - and it's one less job to do!

Re the beans, if they're nice and fat then break one open and have a look. If they're the size you want them then pick others of the same size but if not leave them a bit longer.

[roitelet]

I find blanched veg keeps better in the freezer. Last year I froze Broadies without blanching. Tried one serving after about a couple of months and the rest went to the Chooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alison]

I find blanched veg keeps better in the freezer. Last year I froze Broadies without blanching. Tried one serving after about a couple of months and the rest went to the Chooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting, I find quite the oposite

[HeyWayne]

How big?

About this big *holds up fingers*.

[womble]

Knowing when to pick and eat, is to me, a skill as useful as knowing when to sow or plant.
Start picking and eating when you think they are ready and learn your way around it from there. If they are too big and tough for the way you like them, try and pick the next lot earlier.

[Bramble_killer]

excellent. ask 10 gardeners a question and get 10 different answers.

I shall pry a bean off a plant tonight (any excuse to start harvesting) and check if that is enough beans for me

[Two_Sheds]

I've just picked a bagful, and the beans inside are pea sized: small & sweet, to be eaten raw in a salad