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 a home gardener, one of the most rewarding parts of growing your own vegetables is collecting seeds for replanting. Green beans are one of the easiest crops to save seeds from. With just a little preparation, you can harvest fresh green bean seeds to grow more plants next season.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Why save green bean seeds?
- Identifying seed pods
- Optimal harvest time
- Drying and curing process
- Removing seeds from pods
- Proper storage conditions
- Viability and germination tips
- Suggested bean varieties for seed saving
Read on to learn how to successfully collect and store green bean seeds for future planting!
Why Save Your Own Green Bean Seeds?
Here are some of the benefits of saving seeds from your own green bean plants
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It’s free – No need to buy new seed packets every year Just store your own.
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Adaptation – Plants will evolve to thrive in your microclimate and soil over generations.
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Heirlooms – You can pass down beloved heirloom varieties year after year.
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No hybrids – Open-pollinated seeds produce true-to-type plants.
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Fun hobby – Seed saving is an enjoyable learning experience for gardeners.
As long as you grow open-pollinated varieties, it’s easy to save green bean seeds for replanting.
Identifying Mature Green Bean Seed Pods
The key to success is identifying and harvesting bean pods at the perfect stage of maturity. What are you looking for?
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Pods should be fully dried out and brown.
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Seeds will rattle inside when shaken.
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Plants may appear dead and shriveled.
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Stems and pods will be dry and brittle.
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Beans inside will be hard and plump.
Pods left on drying bean plants too long can split and shatter, losing seeds. So regular monitoring is advised as pods mature.
When is the Best Time to Harvest Green Bean Seeds?
Ideally, seed pods should remain on the plant until completely mature and dry. This often takes 4-6 weeks after the last harvest of green snap beans. Timing will vary by variety.
For short season areas: Harvest pods once majority are dry and brown. Pull entire plants and hang indoors to finish curing.
In long season climates: Pods can dry fully on plants before harvesting seed pods.
Be patient and allow nature to do its work. Rushing the drying process reduces seed viability.
Curing and Drying Harvested Green Bean Seed Pods
Once picked from the plants, seed pods still need 1-2 weeks additional curing to further dry and ripen seeds.
Follow these steps for curing green bean seeds:
- Gather dried pods into paper bags or mesh nets. Avoid using plastic.
- Hang pods in a warm, dry, airy spot out of direct sunlight.
- Stir or shake the bags every few days to evenly dry pods.
- Pods will crack open as they lose the last bit of moisture.
The curing time ensures seeds reach maximum dryness and maturity for the best germination rates the following season.
Removing Green Bean Seeds from Dried Pods
After the curing process, the seeds can be removed from the dried pods. Here are two options:
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Shell seeds – Pop individual seeds out by hand. Place in containers.
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** thresh seeds** – Rub pods together over a bucket to separate seeds. Sieve to remove pod debris.
Try to keep seeds from different varieties separate, if possible. Label details like variety, plant date, and harvest date.
How to Store Harvested Green Bean Seeds
The goal of storage is keeping seeds dry, cool, and pest free until ready to plant. Recommended storage conditions:
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Containers – Use jars, paper envelopes or cloth bags that seal tightly. Avoid plastic.
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Location – Store in a cool basement, fridge, or freezer. Consistent 40-50°F (4-10°C) is ideal.
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Time – Most seeds remain viable 3-5 years if stored properly. Discard any infested or rotting seeds.
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Treatments – Mixing in rice, flour, or powdered milk can help absorb moisture.
Follow basic seed saving storage principles and your collected green bean seeds should last for several planting cycles!
Will My Saved Green Bean Seeds Grow Well?
Home-saved seeds from open-pollinated plants are just as viable as store-bought seeds if cured and stored correctly.
To boost germination rates, consider these tips:
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Start seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before transplanting.
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Soak seeds overnight before planting.
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Scarify thick-coated seeds with sandpaper or a file.
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Keep soil moist but not soaked until sprouts appear.
With a little patience, you should enjoy excellent germination results!
Best Pole and Bush Bean Varieties for Seed Saving
You’ll get the best, truest seed production from heirloom open-pollinated green beans. Here are some reputable varieties:
Pole Beans
- Kentucky Wonder
- Scarlet Runner
- Cherokee Trail of Tears
- Amish Nuttle
Bush Beans
- Provider
- Contender
- Jumbo Pink
- Royalty Purple
Avoid modern bush/pole hybrids. The seeds saved may not breed true. Stick with old-fashioned types marked for “open pollination”.
Conclusion
With the simple process of allowing green bean pods to fully mature, dry, and cure on plants, collecting seeds for future planting is easy for home gardeners to master. Just follow these basic seed saving steps for bountiful green bean harvests for years to come. Enjoy the rewarding experience!
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Step 1: Plant Open-Pollinated Bean Seeds
Grow open-pollinated or heirloom varieties and not hybrids for seed saving. All heirloom plants are open-pollinated, and have developed naturally over years. If you save seeds from open-pollinated plants, you will get a plant that is just like the parent plant. Plants can also adapt over time to grow well in your garden environment.
Cross-pollinating closely related varieties to get a trait like disease resistance, higher yield, or color is how plant breeders make hybrids. Plants grown from hybrid seeds don’t usually breed true when seeds are saved and planted the following year.
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.
Harvesting Green Bean Seeds. When and how to harvest green beans.
FAQ
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