During harvest season April - July, check the beans weekly, then when ripe beans are found, check 3 times per week until numerous beans are found at which time ensure daily checks and full swing harvest begins.
Vanilla beans must be harvested at full maturity to ensure a high vanillin content and complex flavour.
The tip of the bean begins to turn yellow-green.
Beans are plump, firm, and slightly glossy.
Be careful; Mature beans snap cleanly when bent. Immature beans will bend but not snap.
Immature beans will result in low-quality vanilla with poor flavour.
Undeveloped pods will shrink excessively during curing, reducing yield.
Beans will lack the rich, complex aroma required for premium-grade vanilla.
Daily monitoring is essential during harvest season to spot the first signs of pod ripening and avoid losses.