checking germination

[Pompeylottie]

I have found a load of cherokee trail of tears black beans and some nameless french beans at the bottom of the cuboard in the conservatory, not sure if last years or the year before.
Is there a way I can check a few for germination to see if they are still viable?

[Kristen]

You can sandwich some between moist kitchen paper and see if they germinate. You can plant the ones that do (if you don't have much seed to test - but sounds like that is not a problem?!!)

[Florence Fennel]

I'd risk it and sow them anyway, some are bound to come up surely and if you found them at the bottom of a cupboard it'll be a bonus if they do and nothing lost if they don't!

[Two_Sheds]

I chit all my bean seed anyway. The method is the same as you would use for sprouting seeds: put them in a jar, cold soak overnight, then drain in the morning. Rinse every day until they sprout

This doesn't work (for me) with white beans, they just rot

[Flummery]

However, it's a tad early (by a couple of months) to sow them for real. They can't go out till after the last frost (and ours was late May last year!)

[zazen999]

I wouldn't waste them.

In April - put them and some damp compost into a sandwich bag, and pop in the airing cupboard. check them in 3 days and add a little more water if they are dry. After 5 days they should have germinated, so you can put them in pots. After 2 weeks if they haven't germinated, then they are a gonner.

I have been given [rescued] a load of HSL seeds - peas and squashes - from old stock that was going to be chucked...that may or may not germinate. April is going to be a busy time in my airing cupboard as I will be using this method - possibly with a vermiculite and compost mix - to try and get some to germinate.

[vegnut]

I'd be inclined to wait till early April and just sow them in pots, ready for transplanting after the frosts, i think you will be surprised how long bean seeds stay viable for.
If you have loads, then you can try Kristens, Two Sheds or zazen999's methods.
Good luck either way.

[Pompeylottie]

Thank you everyone, if they are viable I will bag some up for a seed swap in early April, I didn't want to swap a dead load of seeds. I will try chitting a couple of beans with each method and see how I go.

[Lotsaveg]

Yes, you should know with beans in a couple of days if they are still viable as the embryo will start to grow