[Elaine G]

Now that my Borlottis are growing nicely I need to know what to do next!
If I want them for dried beans for the winter do I just leave them on the plant?
 And if so how long for - till they get fat or till they get dried - that could be a long time this weather
If you leave them on does this mean that  will stop producing sooner than the runners?
Sorry if these questions seem silly, I have only done runner beans before, new territory here for me.

Thanks


Elaine

[compostqueen]

I pull up my borlottis once the plants start start looking scruffy, and before the first frosts, and put the plants in the shed to dry off. When the beans are ready they just fall out of the pods which split open as the plants dries.  I finish drying them off in the house (not kitchen or bathroom   ) on some kitchen paper for a bit til I think they're completely dry and then put them in jars

Well, I did store them in my shed but they attracted every mouse in the neighbourhood so I've got to find somewhere else to dry them this year  :roll:

[DD.]

Leave them on until the pods start to turn brown. Remove them & place in a warm dry place until the pods are dry & crisp. Take beans out & store - I use an airtight tin.

And yes - they probably will stop producing before the runners!

[Elaine G]

Thanks compostqueen and DD, I will leave them alone now and wait for them to die back!
Then find a safe place for them to dry off as we have mice too!!

Elaine

[compostqueen]

I keep mine in a glass storage jar cos they do look beautiful. Shame to eat em  

[DD.]

Somebody gave me a bean, (yes one), a few years ago, but I've now got 64 plants on the go.

[iwantanallotment]

One bean clearly goes a long, long way!

I'm growing them for the first time too, so was glad you asked this Q Elaine cos I was about to treat mine like runners  

Searching recipes to use them, I found a yummy one for tomato, Borlotti & garlic soup.....and loads of others.
I'm dedicating more space to Borlottis next year for sure!

[DD.]

You can eat them as beans in the pod, but they need to be picked early.

[wighty]

We picked ours last night as they were really 'manky' looking and some were going black and soft.  Will spread them oout on the old dog blanket on the bedroom floor to dry then.  I was intending to ask this question myself.  Do I treat the Cannalini the same?

[compostqueen]

I don't pick them, just uproot the whole plant and take it indoors, and leave the pods to open and the seeds to fall out.  Don't know bout Cannellini but expect so  

Once dried I believe they don't have to be pre-soaked but will need cooking for 40 minutes in your minestrone, casserole, soup etc

[Hampshire Hog]

My only problem is leaving some to mature they looked so good I have eaten most of mine! Other comments are spot on re drying etc mind you last year the furthest mine got was to beans to be podded and eaten fresh.

Cheers HH

[goose]

how long did you cook them for to eat from fresh???  if they are nicer from fresh, could you cook them and freeze them or would they go to mush?

[compostqueen]

Yes they can be frozen I believe

[Hampshire Hog]

Goose I cooked them as whole unpodded beans for approx 6/7 minutes boil. For later large podded beans I would pop them into veg mixtures for around 20-30 minutes or so as part of a sort of Ratatouille courgettes onions tomatoes etc.  

cheers hh