I'm not sure how long they are supposed to last, but i'm still using mine from last year and they are lovely.it's been a good year hasn't it ?mine have just about finished. :o)

Yes it has! I dont mind the picking, its the cutting tht I find tedious....never mind keep us going for a while :)

you don't bother to blanch them do you ?

my freezing book says blanched - 6 months
unblanched - 3months.
but like you I have still got some from last year. Peppers too.

My Will It Freeze book gives a good explanation re the blanching debate (I never blanch my rhubarb). Blanching cuts out certain enzyme actions which would otherwise continue in the freezer - these actions won't kill you or poison you, but they do affect the colour, texture and taste of the veggies if frozen unblanched. So technically, according to them, runner beans will keep very well indeed for 1 year if blanched - unblanched ones 1 month - although they're still edible, their condition and appearance and texture continues to deteriorate the longer they're stored. That's the first time I've bothered to read that section of the book - interesting.

No i havnt blanched them before...but youve all got me thinking now whether to or not...has anyone not blanched them and have they been ok?

I think loads of people don't bother with the blanching and are very happy with the results, it even says that in my book. But if you want them to keep looking good and up to a year, I'd follow the advice in the book, as you've got so many. Sounds like you could eat them weekly for a year...

I blanch and they last me a year till the next lot are ready

i don't blanch, and mine from last year look good and taste good. :o)

ive got some from last year too had them the other day they were still good