[JohnB47]

Hi.

I grew a few of these last year and plan to grow a lot more. They grow just like runner beans but with a shorter pod and I grow them to dry and store the beans, rather than eat the whole pod when young.

I know that to encourage lots of runner bean pods to form, you should harvest regularly. But since I'm harvesting to maximize the bean size, I don't think I should harvest the Pea Bean pods too early.

So I'm in a quandary - at what point do I harvest the Pea Bean pods so as to get reasonably large beans but also to encourage more pods to form?

[DD.]

I don't think you have any choice in the matter.

If you're harvesting for storing, you cannot pick before the bean is mature, unlike runner beans etc..

All you can do is wait until the pod starts to yellow and then whip it off to dry. In my opinion that's the earliest you can do it.

[mumofstig]

That's what I did with Spagna Blanca beans last year, I still got loads for drying 

[JohnB47]

Thanks both.

That's what I'll do then.

Cheers.