Saturday, November 10, 2012

What do you SEED in this picture?


Look Very Very Closely!


Photo by: TheRedeemedGardener
Photo by: TheRedeemedGardener

















  

  
  Pardon the use of words there but I couldn't resist (SEED)! What I see is next years "Blue lake" Pole Beans SEEDS! Yes its the end of the growing season but you still can think of next year as you clean up the garden beds for the winter. That is if you do not year round garden. Saving seeds from your beans is much easier than you may think and here is how.

Saving Bean seeds:
1) Let the Bean Fully mature on the plant.
2) Either let the beans totally dry out on the plant or pick the biggest filled pods from the plant string them on some string and hang them in a warm/dry place to dry out.
3) When the pods are as dry as a "popcorn fart", just crumble the bean pods in your hand to remove the bean itself.
4) As with any other seed you save. Put the beans in an airtight/dry container or plastic baggy.
5) Store them with the rest of your seeds for next year in a dry place.
6) Next season when you are ready to plant, remember to soak your bean seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. This will help germination!

If you didn't catch my post on saving Tomato Seeds, here it is as well! "Saving Tomato Seeds, for next year".

Tips for Saving Beans:
  •  Choose beans from plants that are strong, prolific, and disease-free. Remember: healthy plants = healthy seeds = healthy plants next year.
  •  Only save those dry beans that are large in size, smooth, and whole. Don't save seeds that are smaller than the others, wrinkly, or broken.
  •  Only save seeds from heirloom, open-pollinated beans. Hybrids won't come true from seed.
 

Mark 4:30  Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

22 comments:

  1. Your post just reminded me that I left the bean pods that I had just saved the other day outside. Now they are under the snow...

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    1. Get out there and uncover them and let them dry out. Maybe they will be okay?

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  2. I didn't really save the seeds but I have a couple of pods in a jar that dried out. I wonder if they will take next season? Glad I could finally get back on your blog, there was something there for awhile that my computer blocked.

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    1. There were a couple others that had that problem as well. I cleared off a couple of videos. Maybe that is what it was???

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  3. Thanks for reminding us to save these kind of bean seeds. I haven't saved mine but I do get volunteers that have grown the next year! (I don't save them because I only plant maybe 10 plants a season.) Good post!! Thanks for sharing...blessings!

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  4. Seed saving makes for an excellent series of posts. Well done Clint, and thanks.

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  5. You always have such interesting tips -- I'm always learning on my visits.

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    1. I have been taught a lot by the visitors as well! Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I have never done my own seeds. But my tomatillos from last year did regrow on their own in my garden!

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    1. Its an awesome way to save your favorite plants and its free!

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  7. well, I totally should have done that - but we ate all our beans! haha

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  8. I just found your blog through Gardener's Bloom Day. Enjoyed poking around and looking forward to reading more.

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    1. Thanks for stopping in Megan, please feel free and share with us as well!

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  9. Great advice! I haven't planted beans yet, but we hope to next year. I'll remember your tips when it comes time to saving the seeds!

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  10. I love saving seeds--and my kids think it's so much fun to save seeds and grow anew next year. (Ironically, I didn't save any bean seeds this year. What was I thinking?)

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    1. Well, sometimes we let some slip, lol! Get them next year!

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  11. I don't save seed from the beans, I will be sure to do it this year. I regret not saving any of the lazy housewife beans when I grew them last. I do have self seeded tomatoes coming up from last year, bonus!

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    1. I will have to check out the "Lazy Housewife" variety, never heard of it!

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