The way the beans will be used determines when they will be harvested. If you will be eating Greasy Mountain as shellies, harvest them when the pods are full & begin to change color. If the Christmas limas will be used as fresh butterbeans, harvest when the pods are full... the best color will be when the pod gets limp close to the stem.

If the intent is to use either bean as a dry bean, then allow them to dry on the plant to the greatest degree possible. To avoid spoilage, pick all dry (or nearly dry) pods whenever wet weather is expected. Continue drying the pods indoors, in a well ventilated area.

Whether you pick the Greasy Mountain pods as shellies or dry should make no difference, since by that time the plants will most likely have stopped blooming. Sometimes the plants will resume growth & put out new flowers after all pods have been picked... plucking off any remaining pods & flowers will further encourage this. Chances are, though, that there will only be time for a second crop of snaps, unless you have a long season.

The limas too will most likely resume blooming if all pods have been picked, but again, you would most likely tun out of growing time before those pods could mature.

Thank you...I do want dry beans from them. I know the limas have probably produced all they can...but the greasy mtns....I wasn't sure...trial and error I guess. Sometimes we have a very mild fall here that lasts forever, and sometimes we're just dropped into winter overnight..never can tell!