Borlottie beans

 

What's the best way to dry these for use over winter?  On the plant or take
off, shell and lay out?
TIA
--
Kathy

 



"Kathy McIntosh"  wrote...

What we have done is let them dry as much as possible on the plant, but
before the pods start to open up and shed the beans you need to pick them.
We then podded them and put them in a cloth sack (old coin bag) which we
hung in our garage for the beans to dry, occasional stirring helps. We have
used this for Borlotti, Red Kidney, and Haricots. (as well as saved seed)
Once dry they can be put away but keep them in the sack or paper bag as
putting them into a sealed container could cause condensation and rot.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
 

 

kathy@somewhereelse.com says...

I was about to ask the same question - sort of.

Our beans are still red and green, and at the moment show no sign of
ripening/drying on the plants. Given the current weather and the
forecast of possible ground frost at the weekend, plus the fact we go
away for two weeks next Monday, I think I've got a problem.

Is it worth picking them well swollen but still green/red and leaving
them in the garage and hope they'll dry?

Beware, last year, I dried them, then stored them in a supposedly
airtight jar, but within a month they turned mouldy and had to be
chucked!

Would drying in a very very cool oven work?

Roger T

700 feet up in a very wet and windy mid Wales

 


Possible ground frost?  Where?  Blimey.
I know it's been feeling a bit chilly, but I didn't think it was that bad!


I suggest you didn't dry them enough before storing.  I had similar problems
with my broad beans this year.  Kept them on a tray for about 2 weeks,
turning regularly, as soon as they went in a jar they started to have the
occasional moudly one.  Had to pour them out, pick out the mouldy ones, then
put back in the jar, then keep jigging it about to get the bottom ones to
the top.


Possibly, as long as you weren't planning on using them for seed next year!

 

vicky@dinky.vm.bytemark.co.uk says...

It was on the local BBC Wales forecast at 7.00pm last night. I was only
half listening and did not hear the full item.

Mind you, I do wonder sometimes if the forecaster's even look out of the
window before they predict the weather for the rest of the day!

With all the hills we've got round here, the weather varies
dramatically. It can be pouring with rain in Cardiff and Merthyr, and
beautiful here (and sadly vice versa!).

Roger T