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I have saved broad bean seeds for a few years but I'm wondering if I can shell then dry as they are rather late and drying them in the pod (air drying in an unheated conservatory) is taking ages..........
patience is a virtue I know but I'm not really

I have had to shell then dry when things were struggling to dry in the pods.

As long as the seeds are mature there isn't a problem. Make sure you dry them below 30*C, and be careful not to damage the seed when podding.

Nick

We've the same problem with several types of beans; the shelled items are air-drying in the conservatory and have been for some time. Fortunately - or not! - it's been pretty cloudy but reasonably warm for some time, barring the odd frost, so they haven't cooked.

After drying them,to save the doubt about whether they will be viable next year, you could germinate a few on a wet kitchen towel now. At least then you will know whether you need to replace the seed or not.
(I am doing just that with a batch I dried out of the pods and look a bit odd)

Nick

So consensus is yes as long as they are mature.
Given the need to move towards increased self sufficiency I'm surprised how little discussion on this topic there is. Are people who are PO aware assuming

plant seed
let mature and seed
gather seed and repeat.

My experience, only 4/5 seasons, and not huge numbers is its not as easy as it sounds. It may be where I am, the weather, soil conditions, when planted etc etc etc many, many variables and local knowledge is pretty much gone too.
How many on here save seed/swop seed/know how?

Certainly save and swap, but each seed is different and needs greater or lesser levels of care, attention, and different conditions. I tend to be guided by Real Seeds instructions - the only seed merchants who are trying to put themselves out of business. Their new catalogue arrives soon, yippee!

westcoastreticence wrote:My experience, only 4/5 seasons, and not huge numbers is its not as easy as it sounds. It may be where I am, the weather, soil conditions, when planted etc etc etc many, many variables and local knowledge is pretty much gone too.
How many on here save seed/swop seed/know how?

I save, breed, give away, and try to swap. I agree that not enough seed saving seems to go on amongst food growers.
French beans, peas and tomatoes are the easiest because they are self pollinating and do not cross and are inbreeders(which means you do not need to save seed from more than one plant to maintain the genetics of the variety). Most of the others(apart from squash, but they are not self pollinating) are outbreeders, which means to keep the genetics healthy, about 20 plants need to be left to go to seed and cross with each other.Sounds like a big deal but with something like leeks, all it means is leaving a patch of 20 to flower, and then I have enough seed for several years. There are issues of isolation with some varieties.

Lots of info and books out their about seed saving.
'Seed to Seed' by Suzanne Ashworth is the best I have found.
And if you want to breed your own varieties(or just understand their genetics) Carol Deppes's book 'Breed your own vegetables' is great.
Real Seed Catalogue is brilliant. If you want to set up a community seed saving scheme check out their info on setting up a Seed Circle. I tried it here, but not enough people save their own seed to get it going.

Will try again shortly.

Nick