How to Save Broad Bean Seeds

Saving seeds from your own garden plants is an inexpensive way to plant a garden each year. Broad beans, or fava beans, aren't truly a bean but they are preserved and saved the same way. Most broad bean varieties can be saved successfully, as long as they are non-hybrid. Non-hybrid are marked as such or marked as heirloom. This ensures the plant grown from the saved seed is the same as the plant the seed was collected from.

Things You'll Need

• Jar
• Label
• Pen

Instructions

1. Leave broad bean pods on the plant to fully mature and dry. Leave as many pods in place as seeds desired. Most broad bean varieties have six or more beans in each pod.

2. Pick the pods once they have dried on the vine and when the beans inside are hard. Bring the picked pods into a warm, dry room and spread them out to finish drying for an additional two weeks.

3. Split open the pods and remove the broad beans. Check that all the beans are dry to the touch. Spread out any that aren't completely dry and allow them to air-dry for an additional week.

4. Place the dried broad beans in a jar and screw the lid on. Label the jar with the type of bean and the year collected.

5. Store the jar in a cool, dry place away from direct light. They can be stored in a refrigerator if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Broad beans are a cool season vegetable, usually planted in either spring or fall. Collect seeds from either season of planting.

• Stored beans may remain viable for two or more years.

• If moisture is a concern, place a desiccate such as silica gel in each jar. Silica is available from florist shops.

• Some people are allergic to broad beans. They cause a paralytic reaction called favaism in those affected.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Saving Vegetable Seed
• University of Florida Extension: Broad Bean