Green beans are one of the most popular vegetables for home gardens. They grow quickly, produce heavy yields, and dont need much attention. But you do have to know when to pick them.
There are dozens of cultivars and varieties of beans, such as snap beans, string beans, French beans, and haricots verts. All of these are either bush beans or pole beans. They have pods that you can eat that have different sized and shaped beans. The beans inside are actually seeds.
Follow these tips to get the most green beans from your garden to your table and to fill up your freezer or pantry.
Green beans are one of the most satisfying crops to grow in the home garden. Their rapid growth, heavy yields, and sheer versatility make them a staple for many gardeners. However, knowing exactly when to harvest green beans can be tricky. Pick them too early and they may lack flavor. Pick them too late and they become stringy and tough. So what’s the sweet spot? Here’s a detailed guide on identifying when green beans are ready to pick for peak flavor and texture.
How to Know When Green Beans are Ready to Harvest
Green beans typically take 45-65 days to mature from seed sowing, though exact timing depends on the variety. Check your seed packet for the “days to maturity” number as a starting point. As you approach that timeframe, start checking plants daily for signs they are nearing peak ripeness:
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The pods should be well-formed and rounded, but not bulging with large seeds inside. You want tender young pods, not pods starting to mature into actual beans.
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The pods will change from a bright green to a darker richer shade of green.
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Pods should “snap” cleanly when bent. If they start to get fibrous, stringy, or mushy, you’ve gone too far.
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Beans should be uniform in size and color, with no bulges, imperfections, or discoloration.
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Pick a test pod and taste it! The interior should be crisp and tender with a fresh grassy flavor. If the seeds inside are large and developed, the beans will likely be starchy.
Once green beans reach their mature length but before the seeds swell, it’s go time. Keep picking to encourage more pod set.
Are There Exceptions? French Beans and Purple Beans
Not all green beans are…green! Purple and streaked pod varieties follow the same ripening patterns. Pick when pods are plump but before seeds bulge.
French beans like haricots verts are meant to be harvested when the seeds and pods are still immature. Pick these slim, tender beans when pods first start filling out but are still pencil thin.
Can You Harvest Green Beans Too Early?
Nope! You actually can’t harvest green beans too early. Picking young, slender pods often results in the best texture and flavor. Just be prepared for lower yields if harvesting before most pods have reached mature size. The only challenge with early harvests is if you pick string beans before strings have developed, it can be tricky to remove them. But early picked green beans are tender and delicious.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Pick Green Beans?
If left on the vine too long, beans will overripen as the seeds inside mature and swell. Overmature pods get tough, pithy, and fibrous. The beans may take on a starchy or metallic flavor. The seeds will harden fully, sprout inside the pod, and eventually mold and rot.
Pods picked late are still edible when chopped or pureed in cooked dishes. But they lack the delicate flavor and crisp “snap” of beans picked at peak ripeness. Allowing too many pods to overripen also slows down future production.
For the best harvest over an extended picking period, stay on top of your plants and pick every few days. Don’t let those beans linger!
Troubleshooting: My Green Beans Aren’t Green!
Not to worry! Many heirloom green bean varieties have purple, striped, or mottled pods. Follow the same cues on pod filling, texture, and taste to know when these colorful beans are ready to pick. The pod color may intensify as they ripen. Harvest when pods are plump, smooth, and blemish-free.
Bush Beans vs Pole Beans: Any Difference in Harvesting?
Bush beans and pole beans follow the same ripening patterns and picking tips. The main difference lies in how you access the beans:
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Bush beans are compact plants that grow upright to 2 feet tall. You can pick beans easily without supports.
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Pole beans have vining growth habit, climbing 5-10 feet with the aid of trellises or other supports. You may need to move vines aside to access mature beans. Take care not to accidentally tear vines when picking.
How to Pick Green Beans for a Continuous Harvest
To pick green beans:
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Pick in the morning after dew dries, when plants are most turgid.
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Hold stems gently to avoid breaking when removing pods.
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Use scissors for clean cuts if needed.
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Pick often, at least every 3-4 days, to encourage more pod production.
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Pick all mature pods, leaving younger ones to size up. Remove any overripe, damaged, or diseased pods.
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Check plants thoroughly, including under leaves and vines where pods can hide.
With consistent harvesting, you can enjoy fresh green beans from the garden for up to 3 weeks or more! Just be diligent about picking as pods size up. Letting beans overmature interrupts the harvest and reduces yields. For bumper crops, keep those snap beans snapping!
Storing Your Harvest
For best flavor and texture, eat freshly picked green beans within a few days. Store unwashed beans in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator. For longer storage, consider blanching and freezing beans, pickling, or canning them. With proper post-harvest handling, you can enjoy your green bean bounty long after the growing season ends.
The Takeaway on Picking Green Beans
Knowing when to start harvesting green beans is key to getting a productive crop with great flavor and texture. Begin checking plants daily as they near the “days to maturity” timeframe listed on the seed packet. Pick beans when the pods have filled out but before the seeds start swelling. Keep up with consistent harvesting every few days for the longest harvest window. With the right technique, you’ll be snapping up tender, tasty green beans from the garden all season long!
When Your Green Bean Isn’t Green
Some green bean varieties have purple or speckled pods. To know the right time to pick, look for rich, uniform color.
Avoid Breaking Bean Stems
Never pull beans off your plants without supporting the stem. Its easy to uproot the entire plant, and the stems are prone to breakage if not handled carefully. If a plant has a lot of bean pods, you can pick the beans off by the handful as long as the growing stem is supported.
When and How to Harvest Green Beans (Bush Beans, and Pole Beans)
FAQ
How do I know when my green beans are ready to pick?
How to tell if green beans are too ripe?
How long do green beans keep after picking?
How far in advance can you cut green beans?
Can you pick green beans too early?
No, you can’t pick green beans too early. Green bean pods are edible and delicious when young; the only challenge is it can be difficult to remove the strings from string beans picked early. What happens if you wait too long to pick green beans?
Is it safe to eat uncooked beans?
In general, it is unsafe to consume uncooked or raw beans. This applies to uncooked or raw green beans and legumes like peas and lentils. Beans contain compounds called lectins that serve to protect plants from environmental insults, but they can also have toxic effects on humans when consumed in large amounts. Eating raw uncooked beans can cause digestive symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and bloating. Lima beans and kidney beans contain some of the highest concentration of lectins and consuming only a few of the beans will cause symptoms similar to food poisoning. Cooking destroys lectins and makes beans safe to eat. Canned beans are also safe because they are precooked.
When are green beans ready to pick?
Green beans are ready for picking from mid-summer through early autumn. Green beans are typically ready after about two months from planting green beans from seeds, although this will depend on the variety that you’ve grown. This will vary depending on the kind of bean, so check the seed packaging when you first plant your crop.
What happens if you pick green beans too late?
A green bean picked too late can have a soggy, less-tasting bean pod with a higher chance of stringiness. Picked right on time, green beans can have a fresh crispiness and a sweeter flavor. You can even leave them on until the pod dries and turns brown.