Kitchen Garden Forum

I've had a good crop of peas and broad beans so far, but now I've noticed the pods on the peas are going brown/beige and the peas looks dry can I save those seeds for next years sowing also the broad beans although they don't look dry yet?.

Very little rain here about 2 hours of light rain this morning not enough to keep the dust down.
Bren

Dear Bren, as long as the plants are disease free, it will be fine to save the seed.

I have saved the seed of the tall Pea Radeo for the last two years and they are doing rather well.

Hi Bren

You can do this with all peas and beans when they are totally dry. Shell the best pods and leave the seed in the warm and dry to get drier, then packet in paper (small bags or old envelopes). You need never buy seed again.

But be warned, keep them somewhere safe - I left a whole pile of peas drying in a barn and the mice ate the lot!
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Granny

Thanks OH, Alan and Granny,I will pick the ones and them and save myself a bit of money next year thanks again.

Its been raining here since 2 pm hope it continues another while .
Bren

If you save the seed from your best vine each year the strain will improve gradually too.
I planted giant sugarsnap peas and they were green pods but purple flowers, on 3 vines all the peas were purple podded, I phoned the real seed co and they said there was no way other peas could have been mixed with them so I am growing what might be a new strain this year, pods are on now, most vines are purple podded, just 4 green podded, so this year I will save seed from the biggest darkest purple seedpods. Thank you granny, will make sure mice can't eat them lol

Hi Bren

If you are going to save seed there are some excellent instructions and advice here

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html

Thanks Alan I have printed off the instructions for saving the peas and bean seeds for future reminder.

I think I have dropped a clanger growing runner beans and french beans side by side.
Bren

Bren wrote:
I think I have dropped a clanger growing runner beans and french beans side by side.
Bren

Dear Bren

Absolutely no problem
Runners and French are different animals altogether and cannot cross-pollinate each other. Save their offspring without fear.

Alan