When and How to Harvest Black Beans

 

B(caps)lack beans, also known as turtle beans, are easy to grow, hardy, tasty, and delicious beans that make a nutritious addition to many dishes. That's why they are some of my favorite beans to grow. With their great taste and simple harvesting process, black beans are a perfect vegetable selection if you’re a new gardener. If this is your first time growing black beans, here's what you need to know about how and when to pick them, so that you can enjoy their incomparable delicious flavor, so keep reading!

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Black beans are a staple crop and a nutritious food source in all the world, they can be dried and stored for long periods, making them an excellent choice for home gardeners. Black beans come to maturity about 90 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions, and can be harvested when leaves are falling off or have lost most of their color. These beans are typically eaten as dry beans. When it comes to harvesting black beans, timing the harvest can mean the difference between a high quality and a poor quality crop.

When To Harvest Black Beans 

In the summer, check your plants every week or so to determinate the maturity of the pods. They’re ready to harvest when some of the pods are brown and dry and some still straw yellow in color. You don’t have to wait until all the pods are completely dry on the plant. It’s also important to harvest dry beans before a hard frost. Freezing temperatures can damage the seeds and affect storage quality, so you must pick the pods before a killing frost. The best time to harvest black beans is when the plants have turned completely brown, and the seeds are hard and dry and rattle in their shells. If you’re not totally sure that the pods are mature, break one open and see if the beans inside are dry and black, immature beans may appear underdeveloped or soft.

How To Harvest Black Beans 

Once you’ve determined it’s time to harvest, pick the pods individually or cut the entire plant off at soil level. I don’t advise pulling up the entire plant instead of clipping it off at the soil line. The roots of bean plants have plenty of nitrogen-rich Rhizobium bacteria. These special bacteria stimulate the growth of nodules on the roots of leguminous plants, and I want those to stay in the soil to enrich it naturally for the next growing plants. You can harvest immature or fresh beans before they are fully dry, but you can't store them for as long. Try to harvest your beans during dry weather. If your beans are almost ready to harvest, but the forecast calls for a lot of rain, bring the whole plant indoors and hang it upside-down, so it can finish drying inside.

Watch Know When and How to Harvest Black Beans to Ensures Their Full Flavor and Nutritional Content Video

• Once you’ve harvested all the pods, take your time and crack them open to remove the beans inside. Spread the beans out on a flat surface and let them dry for a couple of days before cooking or storing. Black bean seeds will keep for up to a year if you store them properly.

• Keep them in a cool, dry place, and place them in an airtight container to protect them from moisture and insects.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you harvest your black beans at their peak maturity for the best flavor and top quality nutritional content. I hope you find this useful. Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends!

Happy gardening!

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