kwinch said:making it easier to pick bush beans
Yes: plant true pole beans next year!
And, Yes!
I pulled my bush beans for easiest picking, before I was fully converted to pole beans. Although, I usually picked the very first harvest without pulling, and then pulled/picked the next picking- in a few days or the next week. That way, the spot is cleared and you can reseed another line of bush beans. I don't mind snap beans as young beans (fillet) or old beans that have the actual bean inside starting to enlarge, so one timed picking can 'strip' the plants- to get the youngest and the oldest. If you prefer a certain size/age, then you must pick more often.
Pro hint: in the early spring after frost is past, plant a line of bush beans the same time you plant your poles. You'll then harvest the 'bushes' first, while the later 'poles' are maturing, then eat off those pole beans the rest of the summer. I find little difference in taste if you get the right varieties (ser below.)
If the bean on either the bush or poles get to old, you can leave them, and let them dry on the bush (or vine) for white 'shell' beans, similar to shelled pinto or great northern beans.
Bean terms:
'Snap' beans- sometimes called 'green' beans- are usually 'snapped' from the plant, cooked & eaten fresh- in the pod, or 'SNAPPED' in half and home canned or blanched and frozen.
'Snap' green beans can be either a 'bush' 'semi-vining' or vining (climbing) habit. So pick varieties that grow how you want them.
Note: 'runner' beans are of the same genus as 'snap' beans, and also originate from the Americas, but are a different species (Phaseolus coccineus) and are more popular in Great Britain than the USA.
Pole beans mature later from seeding than bush beans, and set on a smaller but continual crop, which is great for picking enough for dinner.
Bush beans mature earlier, have a concentrated set for a few weeks, then are finished for the season.
So, plant bush beans every few weeks for continued harvest all summer. Plant bush beans if you need all the beans at once (for canning, freezing, etc.)
Plant poles for handfuls of beans for dinners throughout the summer, EASIER PICKING, and for just ONE planting to last all summer.
I really like 'Blue Lake Stringless FM1K Pole' first introduced by Ferrymorris in the 1950s. Many seedsmen sell it.
https://ferrymorse.com/product...
Important: If it doesn't say 'stringless,' it will be fibrous as the bean gets older- many of the heirloom pole beans are fibrous if allowed to age a little to much- the 'Kentucky' pole varieties get fibrous, and I don't like fibrous green snap beans.
I do love fresh, steamed green 'squeaky' beans.
Good luck with your picking plans!
