Legumes

Zones: Annual to zone 2

Pollination: Self-Pollinating. Will cross-pollinate with other garden peas, but will not cross with beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, or pilot peas. Some breeders claim that crossing between garden pea varieties is minimal, indicating that the flowers are almost always already pollinated before even opening.

Isolation Distance: Minimum 50 feet to ensure purity

Propagation: By seeds

Seed Starting: Peas are usually directly sown into prepared garden beds in early spring, a week or so before last frost date. Peas tolerate some light frost. Sow 1/2" to 1" deep. Germination occurs in 7-10 days at 7C to 23C. Providing a trellis makes harvesting easier.

Seed Viability: 3-5 years

Minimum Plants for Seed Saving: 20-40 

Seed Saving Level: Easy

Seed Saving:  As the pea plants start to die down and dry, you can cut the entire plant down and move inside where it is dry, hang upside down, and dry for several more weeks. Another option is to pluck the dried pods off the plants before they have a chance to burst open and spill seeds onto the ground. Lay in a single layer to continue to dry.

Zones: Perennial, but grown as an annual in cold climates

Pollination: Self-Pollinating and via insects. Very often cross-pollinates with other runner beans. Will not cross-pollinate with bush beans, pole beans, peas, broadbeans, fava beans, etc.

Isolation Distance: 200 - 1000 meters

Propagation: By seeds, or by digging and storing tubers

Seed Starting: Beans are usually directly sown after all threats of frost, and the ground has had some time to warm. Beans do not tolerate any frost. Sow 1" deep. Germination happens in 8-12 days at 16C - 30C

Seed Viability: 3-5 years

Minimum Plants for Seed Saving: 20-40

Seed Saving Level: Intermediate

Seed Saving: As the bean plants start to die down and dry, you can cut the entire plant down and move inside where it is dry, hang upside down, and dry for several more weeks. Another option is to pluck the dried pods off the plants before they have a chance to burst open and spill seeds onto the ground. Lay in a single layer to continue to dry. Once dry, use the feed sack method, tarp method, or hand clean. 

*While generally not a problem in northern gardens, bean weevils can destroy entire seed crops. To kill weevil larvae/eggs that may be hidden inside your seeds, place your completely dry bean seeds into the freezer for five days. After five days, remove the seeds and allow the container to come to room temperature over night before opening.

**To test your beans for dryness, place a couple of seeds onto a hard surface, like a sidewalk. Use a hammer and hit each seed. If the seeds shatter, they are dry and ready for storage. If they mash, they are not ready.

Zones: Annual to zone 2

Pollination: Self-Pollinating. Will cross with other bush or pole beans but not with runner beans.

Isolation Distance: 3-6 meters

Propagation: By seeds

Seed Starting: Beans are usually directly sown after all threats of frost, and the ground has had some time to warm. Beans do not tolerate any frost. 

Difficulty: Easy seed saving; Easy growing 

Seed Viability: 3-5 years

Minimum Plants for Seed Saving: 5-20

Seed Saving Level: Easy

Seed Saving: As the bean plants start to die down and dry, you can cut the entire plant down and move inside where it is dry, hang upside down, and dry for several more weeks. Another option is to pluck the dried pods off the plants before they have a chance to burst open and spill seeds onto the ground. Lay in a single layer to continue to dry. Once dry, use the feed sack method, tarp method, or hand clean. 

*While generally not a problem in northern gardens, bean weevils can destroy entire seed crops. To kill weevil larvae/eggs that may be hidden inside your seeds, place your completely dry bean seeds into the freezer for five days. After five days, remove the seeds and allow the container to come to room temperature over night before opening.

**To test your beans for dryness, place a couple of seeds onto a hard surface, like a sidewalk. Use a hammer and hit each seed. If the seeds shatter, they are dry and ready for storage. If they mash, they are not ready.