re: When do I pick speckled butter beans?

The mature beans will feel full and look full. Butterbeans that are not ready are very difficult to shell. Do not let them dry on the vine! After you've picked and shelled out a gallon or two of butterbeans, you'll figure it out real quick. Ripe butterbeans are very easy to shell. I can shell em out real quick, but I've also had years and years of practice. Purple hulls, though, take a little bit longer...