Allotments 4 All

I have neglected to harvest some broad beans this year and the seeds have swollen to an uneatable size. I wondered if I could keep them for seed for next year.

Do I :-
   - Let the pods turn black before collecting ?
   - Pull the green pods off and shell them now ?
   - Pull the green pods off and let them dry out before shelling ?

or none of the above ?

B.beans readily cross pollinate with others bb, so your beans may not come true. But that can be fun-a new Pesky bean!
!st choice is best, keep them on the plant for as long as possible for the beans to mature. If the pods are all fairly black you could try pulling the whole plant up and hang them up somewhere inside to dry.

Pesky Wabbit do you by any chance write exam questions ;D ;D ;D.

Quote from: Pesky Wabbit on September 12, 2009, 01:54:22
I have neglected to harvest some broad beans this year and the seeds have swollen to an uneatable size. I wondered if I could keep them for seed for next year.

[Do I :-
   - Let the pods turn black before collecting ?
   - Pull the green pods off and shell them now ?
   - Pull the green pods off and let them dry out before shelling ?

or none of the above ?]

Nop,. but I have been known to do ballot papers for elections

QuotePull the green pods off and let them dry out before shelling ?

This is my option.

To let them go black might mean the bean (seed) do as well!

But!! and it is a big BUT!

When you speak of 'green' I mean when you see the outline of a bean not before!

e.g. they are knobbly!

Hope this helps!.....  Tg

Mine are well knobbly, some are turning black.

I think I'll pull the whole plants up and store them in the shed until dry, green or black.

this is my method.... although I think all will work...


Pull the green pods off and let them dry out before shelling ?