black beans

[Sniper-T]

Thanks to the seed swap a couple years ago, I have a bunch growing nicely, but I have never grown them before. How do I know when they are ready to pick? Eat? Collect beans for seed? what's the best way to get the beans out of the pod? Treat them like peas?

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0828141506b_zpsd45f621e.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0828141506b_zpsd45f621e.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0828141506c_zps09dbda34.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0828141506c_zps09dbda34.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0828141506d_zpsc5440c70.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0828141506d_zpsc5440c70.jpg.html)

[bacpacker]

Man those look good!
I assume you want them for the dry beans (similar to pintos or kidneys)? I leave all my dry beans on the plant until the shells dry up. The bean will have matured. You can cook at this point or use them for seed. I usually pull my plants (bush beans not vines) whole and find me a shade tree to shell them under or the in the basement. I'll then scatter them out for a few days to dry out good.
Have you shelled any yet? The shells look like the seed would still be green. How many plants do you have? A row, or several plants? I usually plant in rows and make two psses with my seeder, kind a like a wide row.
I like doing the seed swaps. Get to try something new!

[Sniper-T]

I have about 18 plants. first time growing them so I just planted one planter full. I want to save as many as I can for seed next year and keep the rest for eating.

[bacpacker]

Thats best. You'll have plenty to eat and seed next year.