Pat cant you finish drying the beans inside? That was whole idea of leather britches. You string the beans and hang them to dry. I would think that you could pick them and dry them inside. Babs

babs:

 Pat cant you finish drying the beans inside? That was whole idea of leather britches. You string the beans and hang them to dry. I would think that you could pick them and dry them inside. Babs

Yes, I can, but I want them to get as big as they can before I pick them. Leather britches are beans picked and dried at their immature, green bean stage. I'm letting them mature for dried beans. The bigger ones I'll pick if frost threatens and let them dry inside. Farmers cut the bean plants when they're mostly mature, then let them dry, but they lose a lot. I've gleaned bean fields and found tons of good beans left from that method. 

 Pat, when I was little in NC, my family waited until the green beans had beans before drying for leather britches. They still get upset if I pick beans to cook early. That is my only experience with them. Funny, when my Aunt died, her DS found the attic full of hanging dried beans. Probably had been there for 20 years. Babs

 Maybe it depends on the type of beans? I noticed that the kidney beans I planted took a very long time, but they make beautiful long, straight green bean pods. The pintos make beans almost as soon as they form pods, so you have to pick them that way. They make delicious green beans, by the way. 

You know, those beans in the attic were probably still good. They last a very long time when dried like that!  

JennyC:

Pat, if you decide to try the squash blossoms, just pick the male flowers, leaving a couple for pollinating, and you can still give the fruit a chance to form. The flowers are delicious stuffed and quick-fried.

That makes sense, but I've pretty much given up on the squash for this year. They're maturing too small to be of much use. What do you stuff the flowers with? I tried them simply sauteed and they were good.  

 Let a few radishes grow and flower then go to seed . That is suppose to help with the bugs. So just plant a few extra next year. Babs

 Thanks for all the advice, JennyC! I tried a couple just sauteed, and they were good, so I'll try them the way you suggest. I have a little left over ground beef/rice stuffing in the freezer, so I'll use that. It's fun to try new things.

I'm still picking tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers from my almost-done garden. I have 10 pumpkins picked.

I found a few green bean plants that re-grew! I picked a few green beans off of them, but not enough for a a meal....maybe for one person.

I found  a bushy, green brand-new potato plant in the garden! Complete with a potato beetle on it.

 Michelle, my green beans are doing that too.I keep picking a few at a time, blanch them and wait for enough to feed us a meal. Im at the end of the peaches. Picked to small yellow squash on Sunday. have a couple of tomatoes that are blooming again. Im sure they wont make it. Going to friends to pick apples today. We only have about a bushel and will eat those quick. I m thankful for friends willing to share. Babs

  I'm still picking tomatoes ... have a few more peppers coming in.   I haven't checked the green beans lately, but I bet I may still get a few.  We've lucked out with an extra week of warm weather, but temps are supposed to be dropping by the weekend, so I'll have to keep ahead of the first frost...