Cross polination

[KittyColdNose]

I have been mooching the web and found this on real seeds.

French Beans (this page) do cross, but not so easily, so you can grow more than one variety in different parts of your garden so long as you are careful about roguing out (getting rid of) any off types each year.
Runner Beans DO cross very easily, so only grow one variety if you want to keep the seed.
Broad Beans also cross A LOT and are harder to keep for seed as you need to isolate them from others with 1/2 a mile or so.

Does this mean they cross with each other, or could I safely plant one of each in close proximity?

[zazen999]

You can put one of each on your plot but if you do want to save, then make sure nobody else in the proximity is growing the runners or broadies; I find Frenchies don't cross all that much anyway.

[KittyColdNose]

Thanks Zaz. As far as I can see, we are the only ones growing veg on the entire (new) estate other than one guy at the other end - and he is only growing some sort of squash in his front garden.

[zazen999]

Thanks Zaz. As far as I can see, we are the only ones growing veg on the entire (new) estate other than one guy at the other end - and he is only growing some sort of squash in his front garden.

Go for it! Nothing to lose as far as I can see.