Shell beans

[bethduckie]

I'm growing runner beans some to eat as runners and some to let grow for dry beans this winter

I've been merrily scoffing all the runners, because I am aware that once the beans start getting too big the plant will stop producing new fruits, and I don't want them to do that quite yet! (and I like runner beans...) But I don't want to end up with a lot of pods at the end of the season that are too small to shell but too tough to eat whole at the end. So at what point should I leave them to let them develop properly?

They are all healthy plants with zillions of flowers.

And ditto the borlotti beans, please... I've been scoffing them too as a green (well, red) vegetable, but perhaps I shouldn't?

[Two_Sheds]

Personally, I tend to eat the lower down beans whole (before they get muddy or slugged) and save the higher up ones for shelling