Washburn's Community Seed Bank
@ the Washburn Public Library
Sponsored by: the Seed Savers Alliance
Members of the Bean Family are self-pollinating and crossing is uncommon, but rare varieties can be separated by 100 feet to insure purity.
In most cases, saving bean seeds is as simple as waiting for the pods to dry on the vine, collecting the seeds, and completely drying them before storing in jars. Separate different bean plantings by enough distance to avoid having their vines intertwine, however, or harvesting can become troublesome with similarly-colored varieties.
A danger with members of the Bean Family is late summer rains, which can moisten seeds drying in their pods while still on the vine. Too much moisture during seed maturation lowers the viability and storage life of the finished seeds, and can even cause them to sprout or mildew while still on the vine. Pick mature, dry pods every day or two and don't save seeds which have been wetted by rains.
Bean and cowpea seeds, properly dried and stored, will keep for 4 years.
Seed Saving Tips
Quoted from the online Guide to Saving Vegetable Seeds
Beans
Beans are self-pollinated, and different bean varieties do not commonly cross-pollinate each other. Similarly colored varieties should be separated by enough distance to keep the vines from intertwining, to make them easy to distinguish at harvest. Allow pods to dry on the vines before picking and shelling, then finish drying the beans in a dry spot.
If you're eating your beans green, allow just one or two pods per plant to remain and mature for seed... too many pods maturing on an individual plant will cause it to stop setting more beans and concentrate on maturing the ones it has.
Pick beans for seed after the pods are ripe and have dried on the plants. Don't allow dried pods to get rained on as the beans may quickly mildew or sprout in their pods. When very dry many pods will split on their own to drop their seeds; the rest can be easily crumbled in the hands and the finer chaff blown away after removing the big pieces. Finish drying the beans in a dry spot indoors or under cover.
Bean seeds, properly dried and stored, will keep for 4 years.
Peas
Self-pollinating peas do not readily cross—varieties separated by 50 feet are reasonably safe from crossing. For even greater certainty for preservation purposes, they can be bagged or caged.
Allow pods to reach full size before harvesting the seeds—ideally, pick pods after they have dried on the vines. Peas are susceptible to mold if wetted after drying, however. If peas have reached full size, they can be harvested before they are dry if rains threaten. After the pods are completely dry, they crumble easily to release the seeds.
Pea seeds remain viable for 2 years if stored properly.
Organic Gold Rush Yellow Wax Bean (Bush Bean)
Early picking with a concentrated harvest period. Pods hang in clusters around the main stem, making them easy to pick. Lemon-yellow pods with green tips are round, straight, and tender. Fine flavor and ability to remain in prime condition on the plant over a period of time. White seeds. (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Seed Planting Depth: 1 inch
Seed Spacing: 1 inch
Days to Germination: 7-10
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 3 inches
Plant Height: 20-24 inches
Days to Maturity: 55
Seed Saving Difficulty: Easy
Organic Maxibel Haricot Vert Bush Bean
The most popular French filet bean and unsurpassed as a gourmet market specialty. Known for its long, slender, medium green pods with a delicate tenderness. Heavy producer of 6-8” beans on good sized plants. Maxibel will keep you loaded with fresh beans for a good amount of time. Pick frequently for optimal tenderness and yields. Speckled brown seeds. (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Seed Planting Depth: 1 inch
Seed Spacing: 1 inch
Days to Germination: 7-10
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 2-3 inches
Plant Height: 20-24 inches
Days to Maturity: 60-65
Seed Saving Difficulty: Easy
Organic Cascadia Snap Pea
The next best thing since Sugar Ann! Cascadia is a must-have main season variety. Heavy harvests of juicy, thick walled, 3” long pods. The pods get nice and plump with tiny, distinctively delicious peas. Bucket loads of perfect stringless pods on 3’ tall vines. Multiple disease resistances allow for spring and late season plantings. (Pisum sativum)
Seed Planting Depth: 1-2 inches
Seed Spacing: 1 inch
Days to Germination: 6-14
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 2 inches
Plant Height: 3-4 ft
Days to Maturity: 63
Seed Saving Difficulty: Easy