Difference between Green and Dry Beans.

13 years ago

Sorry for the strange question, but I really have not been able to figure out the difference between a green bean and the dry beans you buy in a bag at the store. Planning my garden and don't know what to grow if I want both kinds of beans.

I understand the pole and the bush thing. I think i get the string and stringless thing too. I just don't understand if all dry beans are green beans too. I want both when I start my garden. Wouldn't you always want dry beans to be determinate so you can save them all at once?

I thought I had peas figured out but then I read about Purple Hull Peas and I'm back to square one. I can save that for another day. It seems like standard peas are either pea pods or English peas like those in a can. That makes sense.

Thanks for help. A link is fine too. I have tried to look on the forum and do searches but have not had luck.

I'm planning my garden for next year.

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Comments (5)

jolj
13 years ago
bbjm,
I am with you ,a lot of the words on this forum was never used when I was growing up.
I Think:
1) most green beans, snap beans,string or stringless beans are the "Whole bean", if you wait till the hull/shell,outer layer is tough, the you have shelly or green shelled beans.
Dry beans are not shelly when shelled, they are "Dry beans", only green shelled beans are shellies/shelly.
Dry beans for replanting are seeds & are kelp in the freezer in a zip lock bag.
Please correct me if you see a mistake or give us a link to the list.
jimster
13 years ago
In theory, any common bean, whether bush or pole type, can be used at three different stages of growth; snaps (aka green beans), shellies (the seeds are fully grown but still green) or dry beans.

In practice, some varieties are more suitable for one of these uses than others. Certain varieties are easier to shell than others, for example. But you can usually get away with using any common bean at any of the three growth stages.

Dry beans are left on the vines until fully mature and the pods are dry. There is quite a lot of leeway as to when they need to be harvested because they will hold on the plant for some time after they dry. You just don't want them to get moldy by leaving them during an extended period of wet weather.

Purple hull peas are one of the many varieties of cowpeas (aka Southern peas). In the South, where they are a common vegetable, they are usually referred to simply as peas. It is the garden pea which is differentiated by specifying English peas. Edible podded peas are either snow peas or snap peas, depending on the type of pod. Cowpeas are harvested at the shelly stage and prepared by shelling them and cooking with a bit of pork fat. They are often canned.

Jim
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jimster
13 years ago
jolj,

What you wrote is fine. I wasn't correcting you. We were typing at the same time.

BtW, A noticeable difference between the snap and shelly stages is that the pods are smooth at the snap stage while the seeds make big bulges at the shelly stage.

Jim
jimster
13 years ago
jolj,

What you wrote is fine. I wasn't correcting you. We were typing at the same time.

BtW, A noticeable difference between the snap and shelly stages is that the pods are smooth at the snap stage while the seeds make big bulges at the shelly stage.

Jim
bbjm
Original Author
13 years ago
These replies are very helpful and most appreciated. Thank you both! I understand now.