I was inspired earlier this year, by a post on tend written by Julia, about growing dry beans. I have never been a big green bean eater, but I do love cooking dried beans. I decided to let my runner beans and pole beans dry before picking this year, and the experience has been really rewarding. Something about planting a seed/bean/pea, and watching the resulting plant grow through all the cycles of life is a really satisfying experience in and of itself, but growing beans for the result of the actual bean seemed different somehow. Looking forward to cooking them, and I will save some for planting next year as well. I also left some peas on the vine to dry, for planting next year. Opening each pod is like unwrapping a surprise present. So beautiful and colorful.
Scarlet runner beans, back in April
Purple podded pole beans and Oregon sugar pod peas in August
Scarlet runner beans in August
One of each – peas, runner beans, pole beans – just picked
Just like their mothers
Do you let them dry ON the plant?
Hi Julie! Yes you let the pod dry completely, until it is crispy, and then you harvest.
So pretty, Love the scarlet runners, grew them for the first time this summer and was so excited when I opened them up and found the bright purple beans. Lovely post!
So pretty…it’s amazing to think (when I easily pour dry beans into water to cook) how much effort it would take to actually grow and hand harvest that many beans.