(21-09-2021, 05:56 PM)Broadway Wrote: [ -> ] (21-09-2021, 02:53 PM)JJB Wrote: [ -> ]Picked the crispy pods of beans for dried beans before the weather changes to wet.
Hi Jen
I'm saving my runners for the first time to use as dried beans, can you leave them for to long before picking?
Don't ask me, this is only my second year of even thinking of saving dried beans. This year I actually grew some with the intention of saving the seed for drying, thanks to Scarlet's mystery beans. I believe dryness both in seed pod and in weather is paramount. If I pick and shell before they're crispy the seeds go brown. There are far more knowledgeable folk that I on this subject out there.
I've left them too long once or twice, mice can eat them or they can rot or sprout even if they get very wet. They can be picked once the pods are going soft at the end where they are attached to the plant as long as you have somewhere dry to spread them out before podding. Most beans can be left on the plant to dry, particularly climbing. ones Once they are dry though, they are best picked. The pods can sometimes split when dry and spill the beans,
My carrots are finally producing after a very dodgy start in the spring. Now I have mice eating the expesed carrot shoulders. Traps are set!
(22-09-2021, 09:47 AM)JJB Wrote: [ -> ]My carrots are finally producing after a very dodgy start in the spring. Now I have mice eating the expesed carrot shoulders. Traps are set!
You could earth them up a couple of inches as well - same goes for beetroots.
I thought the same Mark, but always forget and now it's a bit like shutting the barn door after the horse is gone, but a really good idea if I can remember in time. The problem for me is that I can't see the carrots through the mesh, so I forget all about preventative maintenance plus forgetfulness
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Raspberries, blackberries and apples. Mixed lettuce, Black cherry toms and Blauhilde beans.
Tomatoes, spring onions, chillies & apples
Yesterday
Raspberries, toms, mixed lettuce and apples.
Sweetcorn, Ferrari DFB, curly kale, carrots, toms
Yesterday, raspberries to put on scones with cream. Will likely do the same today as they are just as nice as with strawberries. Well I think so as the squirrels ate most of them.