How to Hybrid a Green Bean Plant

Creating hybrids from heirloom varieties of green bean plants allows growers to form new plants with increased disease resistance, vigor, production or larger pods. By carefully collecting pollen from one plant and applying it to another, you can form a hybrid that shows the strongest qualities of the parent plants. While the process is straightforward, work as soon after the flowers open as possible to cross-pollinate the plants before they can self-pollinate.

Garden stake
Plant ties
Fine paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Check over the plants you are growing to find two healthy "parent" green bean plants of the same genus but different species names. Plant a garden stake in front of the two plants you choose to mark them.
- 2
  Select an unopened flower on each plant that you will use for creating your hybrid. Tie a plant tie behind the flower buds to tag them. Wait for the flowers to bloom over the next day.
- 3
  Look inside the flowers soon after they open to note multiple pollen-covered stamens and a single tall pistil. Use the paintbrush to lightly brush over the stamens to collect pollen from one of the tagged flowers.
- 4
  Move the paintbrush to your other tagged flower and brush the tip over the enlarged tip of the pistil to pollinate the flower. Watch the flower over the next few weeks as it forms a green bean pod.
- 5
  Leave the pod to dry on the plant. Pick the pod after it is brown and brittle. Crack open the pod and collect the dried hybrid bean seeds. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place until planting time the following year.

Plant Food for King of the Garden Beans

Herbicides for Legumes

Growing Beans