Saving bean seeds is an easy and thrifty way to keep growing your favorite variety year after year. Find out how to get the seeds off of your bean plants and how to keep them to use next year.
Saving seeds is a good way to save money on gardening, become more self-sufficient, and change a crop to grow best in your area. One of the easiest seeds for beginners is open-pollinated, heirloom bean seeds.
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a grain legume grown for its edible seeds and pods. Numerous cultivars of beans have been developed, including green beans, shelling beans, and dried beans.
Plants are divided into two categories, bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans grow about 1 to 3 feet and tend to produce their crop around the same time. Pole beans, on the other hand, grow 6 to 12 feet tall on poles or trellis supports and keep making new pods until the frost.
Beans are a good crop to start with if you are brand new to seed saving. Bean seeds are large and easy to see and handle. Other than drying, there is no special process required to prepare the seeds for storage.
Beans are self-pollinating and pollination usually happens even before the blossom opens. So they are less likely to cross-pollinate even when growing close to each other. But to be safe, plant different kinds of beans at least 10 to 20 feet apart if you want to save seeds and keep them from pollinating each other.
As any home gardener knows, growing green beans is incredibly rewarding These prolific plants produce bumper crops of crisp, tender beans perfect for eating fresh or preserving But did you know you can also easily save green bean seeds to replant next year? With just a little preparation, you can dry and store green bean seeds from your own plants.
In this comprehensive guide we will cover
- Why save green bean seeds
- When to harvest seeds from the pods
- Drying methods for green bean seeds
- Proper storage for viability
- How to replant dried bean seeds
Follow these simple steps for saving green bean seeds and you’ll have a free source of seeds for seasons to come!
Why Save Green Bean Seeds
Green beans belong to a class of vegetables called self-pollinating plants. This makes saving seeds from year to year very easy.
Here are some of the benefits of seed saving with green beans:
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No hybrids – Common green bean varieties are open-pollinated, not hybrids. This means their traits remain stable when saving seeds.
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Genetic diversity – Home-saved seeds adapt to your specific growing conditions over time.
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Heirloom varieties – You can preserve beloved heirloom green bean varieties by saving seeds each year.
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Lower cost – Saving seeds eliminates the need to purchase new ones annually.
With minimal effort, you can propagate your own green bean seeds for generations. Keep reading to learn how!
When to Harvest Green Bean Seeds
Green bean pods form early in the season, but you must leave some on the vines longer to allow the seeds inside to fully mature.
Follow these tips for ideal harvest timing:
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Allow green bean pods to remain on the plant for 4-6 weeks after eating stage.
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Pods will dry out, turn brown, and swell as seeds mature.
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Seeds are ready when pods are brittle and brown and rattle when shaken.
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Harvest seed pods before first frost for best viability.
Timing is crucial! If pods are picked too soon, seeds won’t be mature enough to germinate well.
How to Dry Green Bean Seeds
Once seed pods are fully mature, they need to dry further before the beans can be removed and stored.
You have two main options for drying:
Dry on the Vine
Allowing pods to dry completely on the plant is the easiest method. Simply leave mature pods on the vines until they turn brittle.
If heavy rains or frost threaten before pods are dry, pull entire plants and hang them in a warm, dry place to finish drying indoors.
Once pods are browned and crispy, they’re ready for seed removal.
Dry Detached Pods
For quicker drying, pick pods when seeds rattle inside and continue drying separately from the vine. Options include:
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Spread pods on a screen or paper plate in a warm, dry spot
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Hang pods in small bundles or paper bags with air holes
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Place pods in a dedicated food dehydrator on low heat
Stir pods daily while drying to prevent mold. Pods are dry enough when they crack open easily.
How to Remove and Clean Green Bean Seeds
Once pods are crispy and brittle, the seeds can be removed. Follow these steps:
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Break open dried pods by hand and pour out seeds into a bowl.
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Separate beans from pod debris like stems and leaves.
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Allow extracted seeds to sit in the open bowl for 1-2 weeks more to finish drying if needed.
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Discard any discolored or damaged looking seeds which may not germinate well.
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Label seeds by variety and year collected for easy identification.
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Optionally, test seed germination rate by sprouting a sample on a damp paper towel.
With a little cleaning, your homegrown seeds will be ready for storage and replanting!
How to Store Green Bean Seeds
Proper storage conditions are vital for green bean seeds to remain viable from season to season.
Here are the best practices for storage:
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Place dried seeds in airtight containers like mason jars or sealed envelopes.
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Store containers in a consistently cool, dark place around 40°F like a refrigerator.
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Avoid humidity and moisture which causes seeds to mold. Use silica gel packs to absorb excess moisture if needed.
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Expect seeds to remain viable for 2-3 years when stored correctly.
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For best results, only keep 1-2 seasons worth of seeds and replenish your supply annually.
Following these guidelines will maintain seed viability so you can plant your homegrown green beans year after year!
How to Replant Dried Green Bean Seeds
When spring rolls around again, it’s easy to start another green bean crop from your saved seeds.
Here’s how to replant them successfully:
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Start seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before your last expected frost date. Plant 1 inch deep in seed starter mix.
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Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors.
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Transplant seedlings when soil is warm, at least 2 weeks after the last frost.
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Space plants 4-6 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.
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Water and feed with a vegetable fertilizer according to variety needs.
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Enjoy your replanted green beans all season and save seeds again!
With proper drying, storage, and replanting of saved seeds, you can grow your own specialized green bean crop perfectly adapted to your garden.
Troubleshooting Common Green Bean Seed Problems
Here are some potential issues and solutions if your saved seeds underperform:
Seeds fail to sprout – Improper storage usually causes poor germination. Ensure seeds stay cool and dry.
Seedlings weak/stunted – Old, unviable seeds or disease may lead to weak plants. Start fresh seeds.
Low seed yield – Insufficient light, pollination, or nutrition can reduce seed production. Optimize growing conditions.
Diseased plants – Seed-borne diseases may carry over between seasons if saving seeds from affected plants. Always start with disease-free seeds.
With attentive growing practices and seed processing, you can avoid many of these potential pitfalls in your seed saving endeavors.
Storing Other Vegetables Seeds from Your Garden
While green beans are especially easy, you can save seeds from other self- or open-pollinated vegetables too, including:
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Peas – Allow pods to dry on plants before removing and storing seeds.
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Tomatoes – Scoop seeds from ripe tomatoes and dry on paper towels before storage in airtight containers.
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Peppers – Cut open ripe peppers and remove seeds, allowing them to dry further before storing.
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Lettuce – Allow lettuce plants to bolt and set seed. Clip off seed heads when fluffy and dry upside down before storing seeds.
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Radishes, turnips, greens – All these plants produce seed pods similar to green beans. Allow pods to dry before harvesting and extracting seeds.
With a little diligence, you can save seeds from many common garden veggies!
The Benefits of Saving Green Bean Seeds
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Access free seeds perfectly adapted to your growing conditions
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Preserve beloved heirloom green bean varieties
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Grow unique bean cultivars bred for your taste preferences
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Reduce pests and diseases by starting with clean seeds
All it takes is allowing some green bean pods to remain on your vines to mature, then properly drying, storing, and replanting the next season. Let some pods go past eating stage this year and try your hand at green bean seed saving!
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Step 3: Let the Plants Go
Allow the bean pods to mature fully on the plant. The seeds will fill out the pod as they grow. Then the pod will begin to turn yellow and brown as the pods and bean seeds dry. Seed maturity can take up 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the variety.
Remember that if you let the pods ripen on the plant, it will put all of its energy into making the seeds ripe instead of making more pods. That means you should either pick some beans before the plant goes to seed or set aside a bed just for seeds.
Step 5: Dry Out the Bean Seeds
Place the dried pods in a single layer on a drying screen and let them dry more in a place with good air flow until the pods are papery and break easily. Dry for at least two weeks before testing the bean seeds.
How to Save Bean Seeds – The Most Simple Seed Saving tutorial EVER!
FAQ
How do you dry green bean seeds to plant next year?
How do you harvest and save green bean seeds?
Do bean seeds have to dry on the plant?
How do you clean green bean seeds?
On a dry and windy day, pour the seeds from one container to another, allowing the breeze to carry away any lightweight debris. Alternatively, you can use a fine-mesh sieve to remove larger particles manually. After cleaning, spread the green bean seeds on a flat surface and allow them to dry completely for about two weeks.
How can one eat chia seeds dry?
You can eat them dry, although, soaking chia seeds releases enzyme inhibitors. Without soaking them, the enzyme inhibitors also will bind to nutrients we need, potentially create nutritional deficiencies, and irritate your digestive system.
How long does it take for bean seeds to dry?
The seeds will loosen up and can be heard rattling around inside the pod when shaken. This process may take a month or so past the point of a normal harvest for eating purposes. Once the pods have dried on the plant, this is when to harvest bean seeds. Remove the pods from the plants and lay them out to dry inside for at least two weeks.
How to save green bean seeds?
Saving green bean seeds is easy. All you have to do is follow this eight step method: Select your best two green bean plants. You may need to select more plants if you want more seeds. It’s better to have more than enough than too little. A very rough estimate is that one bush bean plant will give you 50 seeds.