[Jackypam]

Just got back from 2 weeks away (lovely!) to discover that my elderly in laws have a very different view of when runners are ready than me.  I have a mountain of runners about a foot long and 3/4 inch wide.   Any ideas? ( other than the compost heap!)

[mumofstig]

I find it doesn't matter how long or wide they are it really depends on how how bumpy they are 

If they are so bad that stringing them won't make them edible leave them to dry on the plant and eat them as shelled beans I'm growing some extras just so I can do this

[Beetroot Queen]

I chopped a few pound today and decided if my knife objected to top and tailing them they were past using. Only managed to lose a few like that but they were very bumpy and had obviously been overlooked.