Bean U-Pick Orchards or farms in West Virginia in 2024, by area of state
Keep in mind, not all areas of a state have beans orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
These are the areas of the state that have bean orchards to pick beans. Click on the area closet you!
Green Bean, Lima Bean, Shelled Beans Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
When are fresh beans available?
Beans are a warm weather crop, and won't grow much in cold soil. It takes them about 60 to 70 days from seed to
harvest.
In the U.S. beans typically peak in harvesting from June through October in the South,
and in July to September in the North. But they can be ready as early as
early June in many places, if the weather is good.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
-
Always call before you go to the farm - it's hard to pick in a muddy field!
-
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for beans, but they
may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring containers.
-
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Beans
Whether you pick
beans from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here
are a few tips to keep in mind.
Tips on How to Pick Green Beans
-
Most beans these days are "stringless". That refers to a string, tough
filament of the bean that runs along the outside from one end to the other.
Some beans have two, one on each side; and some have one.
- I prefer to
snap the bean off the plant just below where the stem attaches to the bean.
If you do this, it will save time when you get home, because one end of the
bean has already been trimmed. But this only makes sense if you will be
using, cooking, canning or freezing the beans that day.
- If you won't be using the beans the same day, then break off the bean
from the plant along the thin stem that connects the bean to the plant.
- The beans snap off pretty easily. hence the name "snap beans".
- Pole beans are the easiest to pick, because, since they grow up poles or
twine, you don't have to squat down or bend over!
- Beans are ready for harvest when the pods are plump and firm, but not yet bulging. .
- In your own garden, pick your beans regularly to encourage more growth and prevent the pods from becoming tough and stringy.
- To harvest, hold the stem of the plant with one hand and gently snap the pod with the other..
Look for string, snap or green beans that are :
-
firm
-
green (not yellowish - unless you're picking yellow beans!)
-
smooth, not wrinkly on the surface - that's an old or dried out bean. Snap beans are best when the pods are firm and snap readily, but before the seeds
within the pod develop. The tips should be pliable
-
not lumpy - those lumps are the beans that are developed - that's an
overripe green bean! Of course, if you want mature beans (not including the
pod) then that's a different story, but we're talking about green beans
here).
-
The beans in the photo at right are, from left:
- old and yellowing,
- overripe and lumpy; and
- dried out and damaged. - Avoid placing the picked beans in the sunlight
any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree
or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as
possible after picking. I prefer to bring a cooler with ice in it. Green
Beans may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days
When you get home
- After harvesting, store your beans in the refrigerator or blanch and freeze them for longer storage.
- Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
- They will be good for about a week like that.
Bean recipes and home canning
Now, get ready to can or freeze the extra beans - It is VERY easy!
Click on the links for easy instructions.
- How to can green beans,
yellow beans, snap beans, broad beans, etc.
- How to make pickled beans
-
How to freeze green beans (and other beans)
-
How to Freeze Lima Beans,
Broad beans, Butter Beans and/or Pinto Beans
-
Canning fresh shelled beans
-
Canned dried beans
and peas (from kidney beans, peas, lima beans, broadbeans, chickpeas, pole
beans, etc.)
-
Canned Baked Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce
-
Canned Baked Beans With Back, Pork or Ham and Tomato
or Molasses Sauce
-
- Pickled green beans
- Pickled Dill beans
-
Mustard beans (pickled
mustard beans)
-
Pickled Three-Bean Salad
Varieties
There are many different types of beans, each with their own unique flavor, texture, and growing requirements. Some of the most popular varieties
include:
- Green Beans: Also known as snap beans or string beans, green beans are a classic garden staple. They can be eaten fresh or cooked and
come in bush and pole varieties.
- Lima Beans: Lima beans (called Broad Beans or Butter Beans in the UK) are a nutritious and protein-rich vegetable that can be eaten
fresh or dried. They require a long growing season and prefer warm temperatures.
- Pole Beans: Pole beans are a climbing variety of bean that require support to grow. They can reach up to 10 feet tall and have a
longer growing season than bush beans.
- Dried Beans: Dried beans are a versatile pantry staple that can be used in soups, stews, and other dishes. Popular varieties include
black beans, navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo (aka, chick peas) and pinto beans
- s, navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo (aka, chick peas) and pinto beans