[GSDPenny]

Hi All

Been lurking on this site quietly reading all the posts for the last year or so.  This is the third year I've had my own plot and have to say that last year wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful as it was if it hadn't been for all the tips and advice on here.

I've never needed to ask a question before as I've always found the answer on here somewhere, but I do need some extra help now.

My favourite dwarf French Bean - Boston - seems to have been discontinued and I've used the last of the seeds this year.  It was sold by Thompson & Morgan previously - and I just can't find a bean exactly like it anywhere.  The beans themselves were a darker green than others and had a really smooth, almost  'glossy' finish to them - much nicer than others which have a slight 'furry' texture (yes, only slight, but it makes a difference in this household).

Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative?

I'm going to sacrifice a couple of this years plants to try and keep the seeds from them, but are they likely to have been cross-pollinated?  I have runner beans, purple climbing french beans and also some Dwarf Delinel French Beans growing nearby (we do like our beans), so am I likely to be wasting my time saving the seed?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[gillie]

Have a look at http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html

Cheers,

Gillie

[GSDPenny]

Thanks for the link.  Looks like the runners won't be too much of a problem so even at worst I may get a combination of the other three, and should be nicely acclimatised to my plot conditions.

Would still love to know if anyone has found any other French Bean similar to Boston?

[Ice]

I also like Boston dwarf beans.  Just had a quick google and they are on sale in a lot of places.

[Aunt Sally]

As Ice says they are still available

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/product_67318.html

[gillie]

"they are still available"

The site mentioned seems to be selling T&M seeds.  If T&M no longer supply them, I doubt that this site really has them.

Gillie

[barney rubble]

Can I suggest you try contacting:

Wisley Plant Centre
RHS Garden
Wisley
GU23 6QB

01483 211113
e: wisleyplantcentre@rhs.org.uk

They appear to have them listed , but it could be out of date

[Ice]

As I also like them I called T&M.  As they are in the catalogue but not on the website she said they must have had a problem with the supplier.  I'll look out for them next year.

[Chappers]

can you not let a few pods dry out on the plant and save the beans for the following year, i do this with my runner beans every year without anyprobs.

[GSDPenny]

Thanks for all the replies everyone - been too busy watering to log in lately...

Will try a combination of everything suggested - saving some seed (dying to try this anyway), and then trying that little bit harder to find them when I place next year's supplies order.  In this internet age it's easy to forget that you can still pick up a phone and talk to real people sometimes!