Broad Beans

Broad Beans - it's nearly time to save, depending on when you planted out!

Keep the seed of strong, healthy plants. Those plants that are not typical of the variety are best used for providing eating beans, or removed early if you don’t want cross-pollination to occur.

Where possible let your bean pods mature and dry on the bush. The pods will turn dark drown and wrinkled as they begin to dry out. Then pick the pods and shell the beans out. Dry them further in a warm (not hot) place with a good flow of air. Broad bean seeds should keep for several years, so there is no need to grow plants for seed every year, which means you can alternate growing different varieties without cross-pollination occurring.

Proper drying is essential if you want your seed to last. The temperature should always be kept below 35 degrees Celsius. Good airflow is more important. Spread the shelled beans out on trays or screens in a warm area, stirring occasionally to make sure they dry out well. Alternatively put dry to the touch seed in an airtight jar with an equal quantity of silica gel, leaving for a week before storing as normal. Properly dried seed will not bend and will not dent when you put pressure on it with your teeth.