Green Beans are a great vegetable to grow in the garden. Not only are they healthy they are very easy to grow and save seeds from. You can grow pole beans or bush beans and all are delicious and easy to save seeds from!
How to save seeds from green beans:
- Choose open-pollinated green beans. Open-pollinated green beans will produce seeds that are true to the parent plant. Hybrid green beans will not.
- Wait until the green beans are fully ripe. The seeds will not be viable if the green beans are not ripe. The seeds will be easier to remove and will be more likely to germinate if the green beans are fully ripe.
- Pick the green beans that are fully ripe and dry.
- Remove the seeds from the pods. The seeds are the small, brown objects in the center of the pod.
- Spread the seeds out on a paper towel or a plate to dry completely.
- Once the seeds are dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Quick tips for saving green bean seeds:
- Do not save seeds from green beans that have been treated with pesticides or herbicides.
- Do not save seeds from plants that are diseased or didn’t produce well.
FYI: Open-pollinated green beans are those that have been pollinated by natural means, such as wind or insects. Hybrid green beans are those that have been bred by crossing two different varieties of green beans. The seeds of hybrid green beans will not be true to the parent plant, meaning that the offspring will not have the same characteristics as the parent plant. You can save seeds from them and grow them the following year.
Additional details about each step:
- Wait until the green beans are fully ripe. The seeds will not be viable if the green beans are not ripe. The seeds will be easier to remove and will be more likely to germinate if the green beans are fully ripe.
- Remove the seeds from the pods. You can do this by gently squeezing the pod or by using a needle or tweezers to remove the seeds.
- Spread the seeds out to dry. The seeds need to be completely dry before they can be stored. Spread them out in a single layer so that they can dry evenly.
- Store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. The ideal temperature for storing green bean seeds is 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit. A refrigerator or freezer is a good option.
Growing your own green beans is one thing but saving seeds from them for the next growing season is amazing! You go Gardener!
Happy Gardening!
