Beans are consider to be self-pollinating, that is, they do not easily cross-pollinate. For community seed growers, Seeds of Diversity Canada recommends that different bean varieties be isolated from other bean varieties by a minimum of 3 meters (the larger the distance the better). Plant flowers near vegetables to attract pollinators to the flowers rather then your veggies, as this can help to prevent cross pollination.
To save good bean seeds you should try to save seeds from at least 20 different plants (as recommended by Seeds of Diversity Canada for community growers). This population size will help to persevere the genetic integrity of the variety.
To Save Bean Seeds
• Let your pods dry out on the plant.
• Harvest the whole plants - when the plant is very dry (i.e. not in the morning), brown colored, and when the seeds are hard.
• Do not harvest the plants when they are wet, as you may get mold. If the pods are nearly dry and frost is coming – harvest the whole plant (including the roots), bring inside and hang upside down until the pods are dry. Hang plants in a dry, low light location.
• When bean plants are dry (dead and brown) you can separate your bean seeds from the pods. If you have a small amount of beans this is easily accomplished by hand. If you are growing a larger amount, winnowing would speed up this process up.
• Do the shatter test (hit a seed with a hammer). If the seed is dry enough for storage it will shatter upon impact.
• Store beans in a dry, dark area. Beans seeds stay viable for approximately 3 to 5 years.
Tips on saving bean seeds:
• Only save seeds from healthy/non diseased plants
• Save seeds from plants that produce well
• Save seeds that show the characteristics of the variety and rogue (remove) ones that do not.
• Save seeds from as many different plants as possible (i.e. do not get all your seeds from one plant but rather save a few seeds from each of your plants).
• Use the minimum population size and isolation distance for community standards guidelines as set out by Seeds of Diversity Canada (as suggested above). If your garden is small and you can not grow the minimum population size then you could grow a smaller number of plants each year in order to maintain the population.
To save good bean seeds you should try to save seeds from at least 20 different plants (as recommended by Seeds of Diversity Canada for community growers). This population size will help to persevere the genetic integrity of the variety.
To Save Bean Seeds
• Let your pods dry out on the plant.
• Harvest the whole plants - when the plant is very dry (i.e. not in the morning), brown colored, and when the seeds are hard.
• Do not harvest the plants when they are wet, as you may get mold. If the pods are nearly dry and frost is coming – harvest the whole plant (including the roots), bring inside and hang upside down until the pods are dry. Hang plants in a dry, low light location.
• When bean plants are dry (dead and brown) you can separate your bean seeds from the pods. If you have a small amount of beans this is easily accomplished by hand. If you are growing a larger amount, winnowing would speed up this process up.
• Do the shatter test (hit a seed with a hammer). If the seed is dry enough for storage it will shatter upon impact.
• Store beans in a dry, dark area. Beans seeds stay viable for approximately 3 to 5 years.
Tips on saving bean seeds:
• Only save seeds from healthy/non diseased plants
• Save seeds from plants that produce well
• Save seeds that show the characteristics of the variety and rogue (remove) ones that do not.
• Save seeds from as many different plants as possible (i.e. do not get all your seeds from one plant but rather save a few seeds from each of your plants).
• Use the minimum population size and isolation distance for community standards guidelines as set out by Seeds of Diversity Canada (as suggested above). If your garden is small and you can not grow the minimum population size then you could grow a smaller number of plants each year in order to maintain the population.