Good to eat ~30-40 days? (Bush Bean Burpee's Tenderpod (Heirloom))

[jemagsy]

Okay so I have a bit of a nutrient/acid problem in my new garden bed so we limed and fertilized today. :tools I have some of the above beans we planted about 1 month ago and that have only grown about 5 inches high, but are already bearing.

It appears to be a little early for these beans... how will I know if they are good to eat? Just take a few and try it? Also will the plant continue to bear after I start picking, and especially since I have fertilized. Obviously there's not a lot of plant right now (we're seriously lacking in nitrogen & potash... the soil is also highly acidic) but can I eat my beans? .... The plants say 50 days, but I'm guessing that's an estimation??

 

[patandchickens]

As you say, trying a couple is the most definitive way to know.

Generally though, string bean type beans are good anytime from tiny and literally string-thin up to when you start to see the first exterior hint of the individual seeds inside. Different varieties may be a bit better at one stage than another but I think peoples' personal preferences make as big or bigger difference.

(They're still edible bigger than that, just you have to handle them a little differently and they're not as worthwhile in most cases, plus letting the seeds start seriously developing within the pods tends to shut off further production of flowers/beans by that plant)

As long as you keep the pods picked before that point, they should continue to bear well for some weeks or even longer depending on the variety.

Have fun, bon appetit,

Pat

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not familiar with that specific variety, but, in general, if you pick the beans off the plant will continue to produce. Again, in general, I think pole beans tend to produce longer than bush beans, but this could depend on circumstances.

Last year I got a few pickings off my beans, then the weather turned hot and dry. Production looked like it was shutting down. I watered once heavily (soaked the ground pretty good with a soaker hose) and we got a short "cool" spell. I had a fabulous harvest after that, both from bush (tendergreen) and pole (Blue Lake) beans. I'm not sure if the cool spell (high in the lower 80's) or the watering had the most to do with it. Probably a lucky combination.

 

[jemagsy]

Okay they are by far the tastiest little beans my husband or I have ever had. These are definitely being planted again next year.

 

[obsessed]

I have been in a 95+ with high humidity and my beans have shut down also.