Beans for drying

[Yasminh14]

This year I've grown a climbing bean variety called Cherokee Trail of Tears (from Real Seeds) which produces lovely shiny black beans for drying. Unfortunately we had some big storms here last week and the wind blew over a few of my canes. I had to pull up 4 of the plants, and harvested a tub full of pods from them, but some of them are unfortunately not quite dry yet, only semi-dry. They have nice fat seeds in them, so just wondering - can I spread them out on a tray and put them somewhere warm to dry out? I always read that beans for drying should be left on the plant until the pods are papery and the seeds rattle, so not sure of best thing to do.

[roitelet]

I would have thought that you could have used the less ripe ones fresh now and dry the rest. Leave the ones you want to dry on the pods. Spread them out in a tray and leave them somewhere dry and warm to dry.

[Scarlet]

As Roitelet has said, use the ones that aren't fully dried. If mine aren't rattling in their pods and the weather has turned wet I pull up the whole plant and dry in the GH of shed. They need to be really dry for next years seed.

[Yasminh14]

OK thanks. I'll try spreading them out to dry, but will use the seeds from these pods a.s.a.p. Not worried about saving seed for planting next year, just for eating through the winter . Will obviously leave the pods on the undamaged plants to dry out in situ before harvesting.

[rhonsal]

If you don't want to use them all now why not blanche and freeze some!

[Scarlet]

Oh, I thought you were saving for seed. You can pod them and freeze the beans fresh, no need to soak them overnight. If you are going to go with the drying method make sure they are really dry before putting in a jar and putting a lid on them, if there's any moisture in the jar the lot will go mouldy.