Beans in pods, I’m not a big fan. Peas, yuck. Limas, horrible. And all those other beans, I’d rather not even try them. I think it has something to do with the way my mother would prepare them. That sounds horrible of me, doesn’t it? I know, I feel guilty for even writing this. But it’s true. Sorry, Mom. This spring, I saw a packet of Vermont Cranberry Bean seeds on the table at our community garden that I could take. My garden neighbor had placed them there. He has grown them for years and years, and every spring he tells me I should try them. This was the year to try them.
Cranberry beans, also known as borlotti beans, are a delicious and versatile bean grown around the world Their eye-catching pink and red speckled pods contain tasty beans inside that are cream colored with red streaks But when is the right time to pick cranberry beans for peak flavor and texture?
How to Know When Cranberry Beans are Ready for Picking
Determining when to pick cranberry beans requires understanding their growth cycle and watching for signs they are ready for harvest. Here are tips for identifying when cranberry bean pods are at their prime for picking:
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Monitor pod color Immature cranberry bean pods will be bright green. As the beans inside mature the pods will gradually turn yellow then tan, and finally brown. Once the pods look mostly brown overall, the beans are nearing maturity.
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Check pod dryness: Mature cranberry bean pods will appear dry and papery. Gently squeeze a pod between your fingers. If it feels dry and brittle, the beans inside are likely ready for harvest.
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Watch for shriveling pods: As cranberry bean pods fully mature, they will begin to shrivel and wrinkle. Shriveling and wrinkling signals the beans are drying down and at their prime for picking.
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Pop open a test pod: Split open a cranberry bean pod and examine the beans inside. If the beans have plumped up to fill the pods and have developed their signature cream and red speckled coloration, they are ready for harvest.
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Sample a raw bean You can also occasionally taste a raw cranberry bean right out of the pod to judge readiness Mature beans will have a solid texture and a characteristic bean flavor, Immature beans may taste starchy or bitter
When to Pick Cranberry Beans for Dried Beans
If you intend to dry cranberry beans for storage and later use, wait to harvest until the plant leaves begin turning yellow and most bean pods appear thoroughly dry and brown. Dried pods signal the beans have reached their fullest flavor and nutrition. Gather pods once the majority, around 80%, look completely dried.
Picking Cranberry Beans for Fresh Use
For enjoying cranberry beans fresh, pick them a little earlier when pods look mottled brown and tan but still have some hint of green. Pods will feel dry overall but still somewhat pliable. Freshly picked cranberry beans have a shorter shelf life but finer, more delicate texture perfect for immediate use.
Tips for Harvesting Cranberry Beans
Follow these tips to pick cranberry beans efficiently while keeping plants productive:
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Pick cranberry bean pods by hand, gently pulling to detach from the plants. Be careful not to damage plants during harvest.
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Use clean, sharp scissors to snip off especially stubborn pods that won’t detach easily by hand.
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Pick beans in the morning when pods contain the most moisture and are easiest to remove from plants.
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Check plants daily once beans start maturing and pick pods as they become ready. Leaving overly mature pods on plants can reduce yields.
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To extend the harvest, consider making two or more pickings from each plant as pods ripen over one to two weeks.
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If frost threatens before all pods are ready, pull entire cranberry bean plants and hang them upside down in a warm location to dry.
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After picking, spread out cranberry bean pods in a single layer and allow to dry further for about two weeks if beans are being dried for storage.
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Once pods are fully dried, shell out beans by hand, popping pods open and removing the beans inside.
How to Store Fresh and Dried Cranberry Beans
Proper storage is important for preserving cranberry beans after harvest:
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For short term storage, place freshly picked cranberry beans in pods in a breathable container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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Shelled fresh beans will keep up to one week refrigerated in a covered container.
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For long term storage, dried beans removed from pods can be kept in sealed jars or mylar bags in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
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For the best vitality and germination rates, dried cranberry beans intended for planting next year should be kept refrigerated or frozen.
Common Questions about Harvesting Cranberry Beans
If you’re new to growing cranberry beans, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about knowing when and how to pick them:
Can I harvest cranberry beans while the pods are still green?
It’s best to wait until pods have turned mostly brown and feel dry to the touch. Picking pods when still green will yield immature, starchy beans.
What happens if I pick cranberry bean pods too early?
Beans harvested too early may not keep well in storage. Their texture will also be less creamy and more tough if pods are picked when immature.
Is it okay to let some cranberry bean pods dry on the plant?
Yes, letting pods remain on the plant until fully brown and dry is perfectly fine and will result in well-developed flavor. Harvest these dried pods once the majority reach that stage.
Can frost damage cranberry beans?
A light frost won’t seriously harm cranberry beans, but a hard freeze can. If heavy frost threatens, it’s best to pull up entire plants and hang indoors to finish drying rather than leaving pods on the plants.
How late in the season can I harvest cranberry beans?
Cranberry beans can be picked up until the first hard frost provided pods are still pliable. But it’s ideal to harvest before cool weather settles in for highest quality beans.
What’s the best way to remove cranberry beans from dried pods?
After pods have fully cured, you can remove beans by hand, gently popping pods open over a container. For easier shelling, rub pods together in a burlap sack to loosen beans.
Get the Most from Your Cranberry Bean Harvest
With their vivid speckled pods and colorful beans, cranberry beans are one of the most striking bean varieties to grow. Follow these guidelines on identifying when cranberry bean pods are optimally ripe for picking. Proper timing and care in harvesting will help ensure you collect an abundant crop of great tasting, beautifully marked cranberry beans to enjoy.
Growing Vermont Cranberry Beans
Growing is easy. I believe I planted the Vermont Cranberry Beans in June, spaced every 3 feet and 4 or 5 inches apart. On the package, it said that these seeds were stored until 2010, but guess what? All of them germinated.
I promptly put the package away and didn’t read any of the care instructions. I just watered them along with all the other plants in the garden. Not any more fertilizer than what the rest of the garden got, which I have to say was woefully inadequate. But the Vermont Cranberry Beans kept growing and grew well.
By the beginning of August, the bean bushes were more than 2 feet tall and quite lush. They were flowering well, too. Beans were growing. A great sign. Green at first, Some of them began to lighten in color, becoming a mottled greenish and pinkish.
I consulted my garden neighbor about harvesting. When I planted these, I thought “dry bean” meant to wait until all the pods were dry so I could store them for the winter. He told them they could be done that way, but for the best taste, they should be picked before they dry. The last bit of green on the end of the bean is what you can see as it changes from green to pink. When that green is gone, that’s the time to harvest them.
He also said that about 70% of the beans are ready to be picked all at once, while the other 30% kind of coast in.
I was a bit delinquent for my first harvest. It was enough beans to fill a gallon plastic bag. Some were still green at the tips, while others had pods that were drying out. And when I carefully pressed the pod’s tip until it popped open to shell the beans, I found the most beautiful red-and-pink gems inside. Gorgeous.