Green beans, also known as string beans, snap beans, or just “green beans,” are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the summer vegetable garden. You can grow them in pole or bush forms. I can help you if you’ve been growing green beans in your garden but don’t know when to pick them.
There are different planting times for green beans depending on where you live, so how do you know when to harvest? There are certain signs to look for to make sure it’s time to harvest. Find out when to harvest your green beans for tender and not stringy and tough pods!.
If you’ve never grown pole beans or bush beans before, don’t worry! I have a few full guides on how to grow green bean pods in the garden.
As with many things in life… bigger isn’t always better. This rings true for many things in the garden, beans included. I wish I would have known this tidbit when I first started.
I waited to pick zucchini until they were the size of my arm. Those “arm-sized” zucchini also came with seeds the size of jellybeans. Also, don’t throw away those big zucchinis—they’re great in many recipes—just check out my post Recipes for Large Zucchini!
As a child, I still find those weird, huge pumpkins and other vegetables to be interesting to look at. But the truth is that most big vegetables aren’t very good to eat. Some vegetables get tougher as they get bigger. Plus, who wants to chew on a green bean or okra piece for a long time? Not me.
Most of the vegetables in your summer garden should be young and tender. The bush or pole beans you’ve been growing are no different. Once you notice those tiny beans appearing, keep your eye on them. They grow quickly and can soon become too big.
This post might have affiliate links, which just means that I might get paid a small fee for linking to other sites. Thank you for supporting my site!.
How To Tell If Green Beans Are Ready To Pick The Complete Guide
For home gardeners, knowing when to harvest green beans is key to getting the most out of your crop. Underripe beans can be small and flavorless while overripe beans become fibrous and tough. So how do you know the perfect time to start picking? This complete guide will walk you through the signs to look for so you can pick green beans at their peak for maximum taste and productivity.
What To Look For When Green Beans Are Ready To Pick
Mature Size & Shape
The first way to know green beans are ready for harvesting is their size and shape. Look for pods that have reached their varietal description – slender and around 6 inches long for classic “string” beans, 3-4 inches long for haricots verts, or fatter and rounder for romano types. The pods should look nearly full from end to end, with a uniform width and only slight bulging from the beans inside. Beans that are overly fat and lumpy or curved mean they are overripe.
Pod Color
Check the pod color too. This should be a rich, solid shade all over. Dark green is common but purple, yellow, or mottled varieties also exist. Avoid beans with white, pale patches or yellowing as this indicates overmaturity. However, small white flecks due to natural scarring from plant friction is normal.
Snapping Texture
Mature green bean pods snap crisply when bent. Try gently snapping a sample pod – it should break cleanly in half. Pods that bend or feel leathery aren’t ready yet. Soft, spongy pods that smash are overripe. The perfect “snap” is the textbook indicator for peak texture and flavor.
Bean Size
Finally, peek inside. Carefully slice a pod open and check the bean size. Beans should be nearly touching inside their pods but before they plump up and fill the cavity completely. Flat pods with tiny seeds need more time. Bulging pods with fully enlarged beans are overmature. Time your harvests when beans are plump but pods still have a bit of room.
Other Useful Tips
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Pick early in the day after dew dries for maximum crispness.
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Harvest every 2-3 days to keep plants productive.
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Use scissors for clean-cut picking rather than pulling.
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Choose young and mid-aged pods for optimal texture.
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Pick promptly before pods bulge and swell with enlarging seeds.
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Plant successive crops for continued harvests over months.
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Check both lower and upper parts of each plant.
What If You Leave Beans Too Long?
Overripe beans left on the vines too long can lose flavor and texture. Pods become stringy, woody, and puffy with bulging beans. The seeds may sprout inside or even split the pods. Shelled beans are still edible cooked but poor for preservation. Letting pods overmature also slows further production. For best quality and yields, stay diligent in scouting plants and harvesting at peak maturity.
Can You Harvest Beans Too Early?
Technically beans can be eaten at any size if the pods are still snappy, but they will lack flavor and be low-yielding. Very immature beans have barely developed seeds and more “shell” than interior bean. Resist picking too soon to allow pods to swell. Waiting until beans fill their pods ensures good eating quality and higher productivity per plant over the season. Just avoid letting them hang too long once full sized and plump.
How Long Does It Take Green Beans To Mature?
Green beans mature approximately 50-60 days from seeding on average. However, exact days to harvest varies significantly by cultivar. Bush beans ripen faster than pole types. Here are some estimates:
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Bush beans: 45-55 days
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Pole beans: 50-65 days
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Early maturing varietals: 50 days
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Late-season varieties: 60+ days
Other factors like weather and soil conditions also affect maturation time. Monitor bean patches closely as they near their “days to maturity” estimate and pick when ready.
What’s The Best Way To Pick Green Beans?
To harvest beans:
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Wait until dew dries after morning to prevent spreading disease.
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Grasp the stem gently to avoid uprooting the plant.
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Use pruners or scissors to snip pods off cleanly.
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For pole beans, move vines aside if needed to access pods.
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Check upper and lower portions of each plant.
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Use a basket to hold picked beans as you work through the patch.
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Pick every few days to encourage more pod production.
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Keep mature beans picked before they overripen.
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Chill beans quickly after harvest to retain texture and flavor.
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Wash just before eating, not before storing.
How Long Do Harvests Last?
If continually picked, green bean plants will keep producing for 4-6 weeks. Pick frequently, at least every other day, to encourage more pod growth. Declining harvests, smaller pods, and lower quality indicate the plant is ending its productive life cycle. At the end of the season, leave some pods to fully ripen and dry if saving bean seeds for planting next year. Otherwise, pull up spent plants and add to the compost pile.
Getting Familiar With Your Own Plants
Every gardener and each season may be slightly different. Take notes on days to maturity, pod characteristics, and peak flavor for your own green bean varieties and conditions. Soon you’ll become accustomed to the perfect picking times for your own patch! Getting to know your plants ensures you can harvest green beans at the pinnacle of taste and productivity.
How to Pick Green Beans
Once you know that your harvest season is approaching, use these easy steps for picking your green beans. Follow these steps for harvesting:
- First, take hold of the bean’s stem and look at how it connects to the main vine.
- Cut the bean off at the stem, or cut the stem off the plant with a sharp pair of pruners.
- Make sure you don’t hurt the whole plant or vine by pulling too hard on the bean before it’s really broken off. This could make the bush or vine fall off the trellis or even pull up from the ground.
Now, let’s talk about good containers for picking green beans and how to keep them fresh after farming.
How to Know if a Bean is Ready to Harvest
Depending on the variety of beans you’re growing (yellow beans, runner beans, dragon tongue, etc. ), each will have an estimated time to harvest. You can find this information on the back of seed packets or plant tags if you bought seedlings.
Always use this as your first source of information about when the beans you grew were ready to be picked. Here are the signs to look for to know if the beans you’ve grown are ready:
- You want beans that are full but not too fat and feel firm when you touch them. (Skip the skinny ones that feel flat. ) .
- If the bean seeds inside are bulging and the bean has become stringy, don’t wait too long to pick it.
- Avert beans with black spots or other signs of sickness.
Look for a nice lean bean. It should be firm (not soft and squishy) but also not have overgrown seeds like the beans above.
The bean below is ready to be picked. Notice the uniform thickness? This will ensure less stringy-ness and toughness. They will be easier to cook and a much better size for canning or freezing.
Beans that have gotten beyond the tender stage
When and How to Harvest Green Beans (Bush Beans, and Pole Beans)
FAQ
How do you know when to harvest green beans?
How do I know when my beans are ready to pick?
How long can green beans stay on the vine?
How do you know if green beans are ripe?
Green beans are at their peak flavor and texture when harvested just before they reach full size. They should be crisp, tender, and free from any visible bulges or lumps. If you gently squeeze an individual pod, it should feel firm and break easily when bent.
When should you pick green beans?
Green beans should be picked as soon as they are ready, which is usually every few days during peak harvest time. Regularly picking the beans not only ensures their optimal flavor and quality but also encourages the plant to continue producing more beans. What happens if you don’t pick green beans?
How do you know if green beans are ready to be harvested?
The most reliable indicator that green beans are ready to be harvested is observing the size and color of the pods. Green beans are typically ready to pick when the pods are about 4-7 inches long, smooth, vibrant green, and plump. Green beans are at their peak flavor and texture when harvested just before they reach full size.
When are green beans ready to harvest?
Green beans are ready to harvest when the pods are not quite completely filled out. Once the actual beans inside plump up and get fully ripe, pods can can get tough or pithy. Look for pods that are a good length or width with uniform color, according to the variety’s description.