[wellingtons]

My runner beans all failed first time round and are now slowly catching up, but I do have one bean that somehow appeared in the right place early in the season.

This particular plant is about 8 foot tall and most interestly is really dense and bushy.  It is the only plant producing runner beans at the minute and it's keeping me busy, picking enough for 3 or 4 meals a week!!  And it's been doing that for the last month.

I wondered if I kept seeds from this particular plant would I blessed with a whole row of SuperBeans.  If I could guarantee next years' beans would perform this way, I could get away with just planting 2 or 3 of them and keep me in more than enough runners!

I suspect it may be hit and miss and no guarantees!

[mushroom]

Guess it depends if it breeds true. Was the original a F1 variety?

[Aunt Sally]

If there are other bean varieties around it will have cross pollinated.  I'd be tempted to give it a go though, just for fun  

[splodger]

just leave that plant where it is - let it self seed - and you will have even better beans next year.

runner beans are better the following season - i use the same bean trench for 3/4 seasons and leave at least half of the previous years beans in - and by sowing just a few new ones each year - which will then last for several years - you are always renewing the stock if you know what i mean - i'm a bid brain dead this morning - hope i've explained it ok

[wellingtons]

... that this years beans will regrow??  Or that I should keep using the same space and leave a few beans to fall to the ground and make new plants?

I'm happy to use the same space for as long as I can, as it's a perfect division of the plot tidy bit on view, runner beans then mayhem ...  

[wellingtons]

... what the original variety was off the top of my noodle, and I doubt that I still have the packet, but will check.

Aunt Sally, there are other beans around, but none flowering on my plot ... lol ... well not yet anyhoo!

[splodger]

just leave the plant - don't cut down or anything - just leave it alone.

you have nothing to lose - everything to gain.

just pop a few new bean plants in as a backup / new stock for next season etc.

this years beans will produce a great yeild next year - and earlier than any beans you sow next season  

[Stevens706]

Sploger will this work for French climbing beans, leaving them in the ground for next year?

[splodger]

don't think so - but there again - i've not tried it

[Titfertat]

Splodger,  runner beans aren't particularly frost hardy so maybe your plan might work "daarn saarf", but in deepest Yorkshire I can't see the plants surviving one season to the next without major protection.
 :?

[muntjac]

the seeds will germinate but the plants wont if the ground becomes frozen ,i have seen runner plants regrow here in suffolk so it can werk , sow ya seed early then plant out when ready,  then sow a few seeds a couple weeks later in the same bed next to ya plants ,you can do this for a couple months i have em growing from may to october like that , n wellies me likkle fruitbat ,save some seed  anyways  

[Aunt Sally]

n wellies me likkle fruitbat ,save some seed  anyways  

Just what I said, but I like they way you said it better