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How to Grow Beans in a Ziplock Bag
How to Grow Beans in a Ziplock Bag. Bean seeds generally last for at least three years if they are stored in a cool, dry location. However, planting seeds haphazardly in hopes they grow is a waste of valuable gardening time. If you aren't sure about the quality of saved bean seeds, germinating a few of the seeds in a clear plastic bag will help...
Bean seeds generally last for at least three years if they are stored in a cool, dry location. However, planting seeds haphazardly in hopes they grow is a waste of valuable gardening time. If you aren't sure about the quality of saved bean seeds, germinating a few of the seeds in a clear plastic bag will help you estimate what percentage of the beans are viable and worth planting.
Things You'll Need
Paper towels
Resealable plastic bag
Step 1
Moisten a paper towel. Squeeze the paper towel so it is damp but not dripping. The beans will rot in too much moisture.
Step 2
Lay the damp paper towel on a flat surface. Count several beans and place them on the towel, equally spaced. A number such as 10 simplifies the mathematical calculation. Discard beans that are cracked or shriveled; damaged beans will skew the results.
Step 3
Place another moist paper towel on top of the first towel so the beans are between the two layers.
Step 4
Roll the paper towel carefully and place it in a resealable plastic bag.
Step 5
Mark the date on the outside of the bag. Place the bag in a warm location away from direct heat or bright sunlight; bean seeds don't require sunlight to germinate.
Step 6
Remove the paper towel from the plastic bag after three to five days. Unroll the towel carefully and count the beans with sprouts at least 1 1/2 inch and at least one strong root. Bean seeds with shorter sprouts have a slower germination time and are probably not viable.
Step 7
Determine the rate of germination. For example, if five of 10 seeds germinate, you can reasonably expect that 50 percent of your saved beans are viable.
