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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: beckydore on November 01, 2009, 20:22:34

Title: Saving beans for seed
Post by: beckydore on November 01, 2009, 20:22:34
This year I took part in the 3 sisters and tom seed swap and as a result had quite a few different varieties of beans.
Unfortunately my Dad has been ill and I've had hardly any time this summer to go down the plot.
As I didn't get round to picking the beans at the time, I left them to go to seed, which I have now collected. I have a bag of mixed beans but not sure what type they are.
1. Do bean seeds grow true if they have been growing near to others? I had about 10 varieties in 3 different beds. Do I need to be worried about taking pot luck on planting them next year?
2. What is the best way to keep them for next year?
Becky
Title: Re: Saving beans for seed
Post by: Vortex on November 01, 2009, 20:36:55
If they're runner beans then they will have crossed with each other, unless the varieties are more than 100 feet apart or have a substantial obstical between them.
French beans generally don't cross and don't cross between dwarf and climbing varities or with runner beans.
Title: Re: Saving beans for seed
Post by: saddad on November 01, 2009, 20:38:29
Do you still know which one is which?  :-\
Title: Re: Saving beans for seed
Post by: manicscousers on November 02, 2009, 19:07:25
I stick mine in envelopes in my seed box, still got some haricots from last year  ;D