saving beans for seed

My blue pea vine has beans about 3" long. How will I know when they are ready?

Hi tiG,

I hope you still have some time before your first killing frost, because your beans still have some time to go.

The time to harvest the seed is when the pod is completely dry. When you open the pod, it will easily split open and the beans inside will be perfectly developed and fairly hard.

Lay them out on a paper plate, cookie sheet, or screen until the bean is dry enough to shatter when hit by a hammer. It is then dry enough for be put away for the winter.

Hope this helps!

Dave

I brought it inside and it's under a grow light. Hoping that they will still ripen. Does the pod turn brown?

tiG: You brought the whole plant in, or just the pod?

If you just brought the pod, I am afraid that, unless the development was almost complete, you may not get any viable seed out them.

It will turn brown and crispy when it's ready. It'll be light as a feather, and will not be very bendable.

Dave

no, brought in the plant:) thanks!!!

Thanks tiG and Dave I needed some help on this one too.

Ok good deal, tiG :) Looks like you'll be fine. Just let them go and go and go and eventually the pods will turn brown and crisp. It'll split easily and the hard beans will fall right out.

Dave