Broad Beans

cloudybutnice · September 2018

I've just spent the morning tidying my vegetable garden and was surprised to discover a Broad Bean plant that I'd failed to harvest. The pods were dry and dark brown and the beans inside looked just like those I buy in a packet each Spring. I don't know what variety they are, I just bought them from a well known high street retailer.

If I save them and sow them next year will I get viable plants?

Dovefromabove · September 2018

Yes ... as long as they're kept dry until you plant them

cloudybutnice · September 2018

Thank you, I'll give them a go.

Dovefromabove · September 2018

Let us know how you get on. I would sow them at the same time of year as you planted their ‘parents’.
I grow the variety Aquadulce ‘Claudia’ which are winter hardy and I sow them in late October, but not all varieties are suitable for this.

ZeroZero1 · September 2018

You can do this with almost any seed - jus like nature. You could go around your garden harvesting seeds right now - best time

cloudybutnice · September 2018

I already try to collect as many flower seeds as I can, but wasn't sure if the same applied to vegetables.

If they grow OK, I'll be saving some every year.

Thank you.

Skandi · September 2018

They are also ok to eat, they make an interesting hummus (being the original bean for it anyway)

my beans this year were planted from saved seed, because I forgot to order any! Their mother was Hangdown father was either hangdown or aguadulce (which is a much better tasting bean imo) I will be buying Aguadulce again but I do not sow them until march here, our soil is to wet overwinter for anything to survive.

Dovefromabove · September 2018

I agree with you @Skandi ... Aquadulce have a really good flavour chops

cloudybutnice · September 2018

I'll give them a try in Spring and grow them alongside my saved seeds so I can compare.

Broad Beans

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