Kitchen Garden Forum

What's the best drying method for beans and peas when saving them for seed? Do you let the outer pods dry out first and then store the seeds or simply take the seeds out of their outer skins and let them dry separately?

I've got some pea and bean pods currently drying on a tray but the outer shucks seem to be taking so long to dry that I'm wonder whether I could speed up the process by taking the pods off. Or is there a scientific reason why this shouldn't be done?

I usually dry mine outside if the weather is fine Primrose and bring them in before the pods start opening, if wet I hang them in the conservatory. With herbs sometimes I put them in the airing cupboard, that usually hastens drying,ok as long as the heat in the cupboard isn't too fierce, with a well lagged tank it should be fine. I also make yoghurt and rise bread in the airing cupboard

I've never taken any trouble over the saving of broad and runner bean seeds and they've done just fine the following year. Most of the time they've just sat in a room in the house.