GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

Pam Moore[_2_] · 14-10-2012, 06:46 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:46:41 +0100 (BST), wrote:

In article ,
Judith in England wrote:

I have grown runner beans for years - always very successful. I have always
used bought beans as seeds. This year I have left some beans unpicked - they
are quite long and quite big beans inside them now.

I intend to harvest, dry and us as seed for next year.

Have the pods dried out and are the beans mottled dark brown? If
not, they aren't ripe enough and you may as well cook them. A
rule of thumb that I use for French beans is that, if they shrivel
when I dry them out properly, they aren't ripe enough to germinate.

It depends what variety of bean you gtow. I grew runners which had
white seeds. Waiit till the pods are dry and crisp.
I always left some pods on the plants to dry off, Maybe difficult
this year. If you dry them off the plant make sure they have plenty
of air, or they will go mouldy. I didn't buy bean seed for years, but
have given up allotment this year. I how have a box of accumulated
mixwd beans. Will try soaking and eating, following the cautions
about boiling.

Pam in Bristol