The effectiveness of hydrophobic synthetic polymers in reducing imbibitional chilling stress in germinating bean seeds was evaluated. Two technical polymers and three Polish snap bean cultivars were analysed. Polymers were applied in amounts corresponding to 3.5% of seed weight. In the imbibitional chilling tolerance test, the seeds were rolled up in wet filter paper and left at 5°C for 72 hours, after which they were germinated at 20°C. The seed imbibition rate, germination energy, germination capacity and mean germination time were determined. The polymer coatings applied formed a barrier which slowed down seed imbibition, but it also significantly reduced germination energy and led to a decrease in germination capacity. The extent to which imbibitional chilling stress was mitigated was determined by the type of the polymer applied and the bean genotype analysed.