Broad bean plants - when to harvest?

[mic]

Hi

I assume there's a while to go yet but they're looking good to me so far, when is harvest time?!

[veggiechicken]

Harvest time depends on the variety, date sown, weather and pollination.

[hamamelis]

I generally wait until there's beans

[no_akira]

If you look at the lowest flowers you should see little maggot sized little beans beginning to grow out from the centre of the flower.

You just need to wait until its about 6" inches long...

[1Bee]

*envy*..... mine are stuck at about 6 inches high!

[Deltawhiskey]

Mine were planted in November and I have had to pinch them out at just over a metre. The beans are still only 30 mm.

David

[vixylix]

Mine are only just germinating

[MarkPelican]

When to harvest depends upon how you like to eat them.

You can eat them whole pods and all, in which case they need to be small (2-3 inches long);
You can eat the beans when they're small (a little larger than a pea);
You can eat the beans once they're larger (2-3 times the size of a pea); but (IMO)
NEVER EVER let them get large enough that the joint of the bean to the pod is black. Then the bean is mealy and you have to skin them. (i.e. never let them get as large as you have to buy them in the supermarket)

[mic]

Thanks all

Do I need to pinch them? How would I go about such a task?