Over 1996-1998 field and laboratory experiments were carried out to define the effect of genetic factor, bean harvest dates and methods on the rate of organic nutrients accumulation in the seeds, pods and stems. The following were researched: a) bean cultivars represented by three forms: small-seeded - `Mela´, medium-seeded - `Słowianka´ and small-seeded - `Jubilatka´, b) harvest dates (every 7 days), from the 7th day following the end of flowering to full plant ripeness, c) harvest methods (threshing): direct (A) - hand-made threshing of seeds directly after cutting, two-stage (B) - hand-made seed threshing once the whole cut plants desiccated, two-stage (C) - hand-made threshing following the seed desiccation in pods previously separated from the plants directly after their cutting. As plants were ripening, the content of water in seeds was decreasing, and the process of wilting was faster than in pods and stems. Two-stage harvest B, as compared with direct harvest A, showed a more favourable effect on the accumulation of dry matter in seeds. The interaction of factors (cultivar x date) decreased, along with ripening, the content of total protein and crude fat in bean seeds, and an increase in the energy value and the share of nitrogen-free extract. The share of respective plant parts (seeds, pods and stems) in the accumulation of nutrients was changing with the ontogenetic development. The share of seeds increased, while the share of stems in the accumulation of total protein and nitrogen-free extract decreased. While comparing the three harvest methods for cultivars, direct harvest A showed most favourable for the content of crude ash, and the two-stage harvest B - for the energy value in all the cultivars researched.