Knowing when to pick green beans can be tricky! Eating them before they are ready means you miss out on its full flavor. On the other hand, leaving them on the vine can result in stringy and less tasteful pods. Thankfully, it is possible to harvest green beans at the ideal stage as long as you know what to look for!
Find even more information about growing and caring for a garden: How to Plant a Spring Garden, How to Properly Water the Garden, All About Tomato Suckers, How to Can Tomato Sauce, How to Plant Tomato Starts, What to do With Roma Tomatoes, and much more!
When to Pick Green Beans for Fresh Eating
To determine when your green beans are ready for picking, you should inspect the pods daily. If left unharvested too long, they can become tough and fibrous, so make sure to check them regularly! Here are three tips for determining if it’s time to pick your green beans:
1) Look at the Color
As you may have predicted by their name, green beans should be green! Beans that have a yellow or white hue to them are too far gone and should be allowed to dry on the vine. Instead look for beans that are a bright and vibrant green.
2) Check the Surface
A bean that is ready to pick should be smooth on the surface. Pods that are swollen and lumpy will most likely be stringy in texture and less tasty.
3) Do They Snap?
The snap test is an excellent indicator for if green beans are ready to harvest or not. Pick a few beans and try to snap them in half. They should snap easily and make a crisp noise as they open.
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