If you harvest them green, what are referred to as "shellies" the bushes will continue to produce for a while longer but not until killed by frost. They have a limited production and lifespan.

If you leave the pods to dry on the vine, which is the usual approach, then once a fair number of the early pods begin to dry the bushes will slowly shut down. There will still be a few new smaller pods forming and you'll find a range of dryness of the pods until eventually all will be fully dry and ready to harvest.

Dave

PS: the beans are good to eat both ways so try some as green shellies and leave the rest to dry for storage

Thank you! I asked this elsewhere but wondering if it is too late to start some more in my area? These were direct sowed July 2 and almost ready. I would be direct sowing tomorrow if I thought I could get some more before it gets too cool. I just didn't plant enough! But I am excited to have something producing!

What is the DTM on your variety vs. how long until your first frost if you get one? Then add 2 weeks to that number to determine if you have enough time.

CA blackeye varieties have a wide range of DTM. Anywhere from 65 days green to 110 days dry.

Dave

DTM 80 days + 14=94. My avg. frost is Nov. 22. So I'm guessing I don't have time. Oh, well, I'll plant more in spring!

I'm at 62 days on these but they aren't dry yet and I assume they grow faster since it is so warm. I would be willing to plant them and pick them in one of the green stages (or let them finish drying inside) if that is an option but I'm feeling like there just isn't time.

They can be quite difficult to dry indoors without molding. That's why on-the-vine drying works so well. Agree that you likely don't have enough time left but if you decide to try it harvest them as green shellies and use them that way. They freeze great.

Dave

I would pick them when they are filled out, shell, and freeze them. I never have let them dry on the vine. They are also easy to can if you have a good canning pressure cooker. To me it takes too long to let them dry on the vine. I like the taste of shell with some snaps best. I do the same with pinto beans. I will say that once you have a good cold snap that they will stop growing. They are like cotton and really do not like cold weather.

I wonder if I could dry them using my dehydrator? I have limited freezer space and am trying to save it for what I will have to put in there.

Others have tried doing that in the past and reported that not only do they shrivel and shrink so decline in quality because the sugars turn to starch but they tend to mold before fully dried. But if you want to try it then NCHFP provides the instructions for doing it.

If you can't freeze them then just can them.

Dave

Sounds like dehydration isn't something I want to attempt. TY!