Asparagus beans - features of harvesting
It has long been proven that beans in their nutritional value are not inferior to animal protein, so every self-respecting gardener considers it necessary to allocate several beds for this useful crop. There are many varieties of beans, among which it is worth highlighting the green beans or, as it is also called, asparagus beans. It differs from other varieties of a garden plant in the structure and length of the pod itself. Firstly, it can grow to an impressive size (up to 1 m), and secondly, there is no characteristic rigid thread inside the pod. In addition, asparagus beans stay green and juicy longer, which allows them to be cooked whole, along with the shell.
When to harvest the green beans depends on the destination. Indeed, in addition to the "edible" part, it is also necessary to take care of high-quality seed material, so that by the next season you will not run around in search of it in the shops.
So take off asparagus beans from the bush you can:
- 2 weeks after flowering - in order to get juicy green pods;
- in August - for the purpose of obtaining beans.
Features of harvesting green bean pods
Early bean varieties from the moment of planting to harvest, on average, it takes about 60 days. By about July, the pods become plump and juicy, but retain their green color, and the beans inside are still at the stage of formation, that is, small and soft. It is in this form that they should be plucked, so that they can then be used for cooking various dishes.
To understand if the beans are ready for harvesting, you need to break one pod and look at the break - it should be even and straight, without a fibrous structure.
You will need to pick the pods periodically as they ripen. To extend the season, after the first harvest, the plantings should be watered, and then the beans will bear fruit until the first frost, because this stimulates the formation of new ovaries.
Plucked green pods are not stored for long, so they need to be frozen or preserved for winter harvesting.
Harvesting green beans
In pods not plucked at a "young age", full ripening occurs in August. By this time, they dry out and turn yellow. But it is necessary to have time to remove the pods before they open, otherwise all the beans will crumble to the ground.
Since the ripening is uneven, you need to periodically pick off dry pods on the bushes and dry them in the shade. Then husk the beans, dry them again and store in glass jars under a lid to prevent pests.
If the summer is rainy and the weather does not allow the beans to ripen, you can pull out the entire bush and hang it in the closet to dry the pods.