Saving Bean Seeds

Coleen asked me how she could save seed from her bush beans for next year.  This is something I’ve been doing for years and beans are one of the easiest seeds to save.  It’s also a great way to ensure the health of your own seeds and save a bit of money, too.

To save bean seeds: Simply let some bean pods dry on the bush (or vine) until brown and crispy.  Then remove them from the plants.  Open the pods, you can do this by hand or you can flail them if you have lots.  After shelling, lay them out in a single layer in a bowl or on a baking sheet for a week or so.  (I do this as an extra step, to make sure everything is dry.  I suppose its not completely necessary, but I figure there’s no harm in it either.)  To store for next year, save the seeds in cloth bags, old envelopes, or plastic bags.

That’s it in a nutshell.  You can save pea seeds in the same manner. If you have questions, feel free to ask.  If you save bean seeds in a different manner, please share so we can all learn.

Sharing is caring!