Beans should be crisp and snap easily. End of pod should feel spongy. Pods and seeds should be fresh, juicy. Open a few pods to check. Use only seeds.
Pods are tough and fibrous.
Beets Beets can be eaten as greens when the leaves are 4 to 6 inches long. Broccoli Gather when buds are compact and before buds turn yellow or open into flowers. Cut off 6 to 7 inches below flower heads. Don t strip leaves since they are needed for growth. Pinch out growing point at top of plant to get larger sprouts.