French bean-Harvest and storage

French bean starts producing pods within 50 days after sowing. Pods of French bean are harvested at full grown but immature and tender stage. Pods reach this stage in 7-12 days after flowering.

In bush varieties, 2-3 harvests and in pole types 3-5 harvests are made. Quality of beans varies with harvests and best quality fruits are obtained in initial harvests compared to later harvests.

Loss of crispness during storage and in last harvest is attributed to loss of water and increase in water soluble pectin. Seed weight is a major indicator of green bean harvest maturity.

Dry beans are harvested when majority of pods are fully ripe and colour turns yellow.