French bean options

[Zelenina]

Somehow they managed to cross runner beans with French beans to get the new self pollinating runner bean varieties. I wonder how they did that?

Probably by hand pollination. They are closely related species and can produce viable hybrids if a French bean flower is pollinated by runner bean pollen (but apparently less successful the other way round). I don't know how high the success rate is, but only a few seeds would be needed to start the breeding program.

It can also happen naturally but is rare, so for most purposes you can assume that they don't cross. But I've read that it's most likely to happen when carpenter bees drill holes in the base of French bean flowers to get at the nectar without triggering self-pollination, and at the same time introduce pollen from a recently visited runner bean flower.

In my garden I have violet carpenter bees, which are actually large and black and the commonest European carpenter bee species. And I've seen holes drilled in my runner bean flowers. They didn't used to exist in the UK, but were first found in Wales in 2006 and have since spread into a few English counties.

[Jimmy]

Anyone trying Mamba from T&M supposedly twice the crop of Cobra
Jimmy

[Ms-T]

I grew blue lake last year and i'm not happy with the taste after freezing so i am going back to Cobra.

[Jimmy]

I tried Blue Lake a while back but now always use Cobra, might give Mamba and try in parallel and see difference
Jimmy

[Ms-T]

Will be interested to hear what you think of Mamba...do you freeze your beans?

[Jimmy]

I used to when I was younger years ago. But now the wife thinks they lose so much when you freeze them that we don't bother. She is probably right!
So now I just try and grow early / late and enjoy the Glut !
Jimmy