[thumper]

Hi any advice on my runner bean seeds that i have just collected from this years crop for next year sowings. I have just collected some pink lady seeds that were planted next
to a row of white lady (which i believe are self polinating) and they were very large and white with a mass of brown spekcles but the seeds collected from further down the row were normal the normal purply with black flecks and a lot smaller. Will these be any good to grow next year ?

[mumofstig]

Pink lady? that's a new one to me
I grew Celebration (which is pink) and White Lady together last year and the seeds grew and cropped ok this year. I didn't notice any difference between the plants from saved seeds and the ones I grew further up the garden from a new packet

[DD.]

We've touched on this in another thread.

I don't believe White Lady to be self pollinating. French beans are, and a new white flowered runner bean called "Moonlight" is self-pollinating.

HOWEVER - it is a cross between a runner bean and a French bean, with the taste of a French bean.

My runner beans have crossed in the past and I've ended up with purple runners from Enorma stock.

Your crosses could be anything - even brought in from another site. Even if something is self-pollinating, it does not mean it won't pollinate from external sources.

[thumper]

Oh dear you have got me wondering if i have the correct name they are the two coloured kind. (sorry not been at this long)

[thumper]

   I have checked and they are in fact Painted Lady runner beans so sorry.

[thumper]

Thank you for that information DD  do you think it is worth saving them for next year ?

[DD.]

It's impossible to say, really.

You may have hit upon a new best selling strain!

[thumper]

LOL lets hope so and thanks again very helpfull site.

[DD.]

That's 'cos we're "hands on"!