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Runner Bean Seeds
November 26, 2008 by Linda
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Question:
Information needed on how to store and what is the the right time of the year to pick runner beanes for seeds to grow next season. Do you leave the beans in the pod to dry out, before opening?
Answer:
You should leave the pods to mature and dry on the plant for as long as possible into the autumn. Ideally the pods should be so dry they are crispy but if this is not possible, uproot the plants and hang them upside down somewhere warm until the pods are completely dry.
Once collected, leave the seeds in a dry place for a few days to make sure they dry off properly. Once completely dry store them in a paper envelope so that condensation doesn't form and ruin the seed. Keep the envelope in a cool, dry place until they are ready to sow the following April once all risk of frost has passed.
Although runner beans are very tender and may be killed by early frosts before seeds are mature, they are also perennial, forming a (poisonous) underground tuber. These tubers flower sooner than plants grown from seed, so if you want you can dig up the tubers and store them over winter, planting them out once danger of frost has passed. This method also has the added bonus of producing new plants that are true to the mother plant.
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