A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar. (sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty. Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the biochar.

"Bigal" wrote


A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.


The interesting bit will be seeing what grows from them next year.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 06/11/2014 16:03, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Bigal" wrote


A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.


The interesting bit will be seeing what grows from them next year.


I seem to remember Streamline having some seeds that were almost black,
never thought to select by seed colour.

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...
"Bigal" wrote

Snip
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.


The interesting bit will be seeing what grows from them next year.

I keep seed from my 'enorma' every year and this year three of the
pods produced beans that were almost black. The interesting thing
is that those three pods were about twice the width of normal
'enorma' pods. Have separated the black beans and can't wait
to see what appears next year.

Phil

I feel the same way about growing them next year. I had about 20 pods which I think must have come from the same plant. More than enough beans to make a full row of 24 plants'. Two other neighbours grow runners so could well be some cross fertilisation.. I have enough beans shelled to be able to cook them. Never tried them before. I also had a couple of pods with beans that were a light purple lilac sort of colour and were very large compared to the others. but my son pinched those and intends to grow them,
It has been an unusual year for me. Saved some seeds last year from a supermarket BIG tomato. Planted two and had one grow big toms and the other on a standard size tom.. The big ones were pretty standard and some ended up being diced for use in future curries. The standard one has turned out to the best flavoured tom I've ever tasted. It is firm and meaty and doesn't go soft. I assume the original must have been a hybrid f1. l am saving the seed from both types this year hoping that they might grow true.. Thanks for your comments.

"philgurr" wrote in message
...

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...
"Bigal" wrote

Snip
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.


The interesting bit will be seeing what grows from them next year.

I keep seed from my 'enorma' every year and this year three of the
pods produced beans that were almost black. The interesting thing
is that those three pods were about twice the width of normal
'enorma' pods. Have separated the black beans and can't wait
to see what appears next year.

Phil

I'd definitely grow them next year and see what happens. My enorma only
produce normal coloured seeds.
That the black seed producing pods are twice the width of normal coloured
beans is, indeed, interesting, especially if the beans are twice the width
before the beans have developed.

On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly they
are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from the same
plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that black
was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly they
are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from the same
plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

If they grow true next year I should have enough to be able to do a tasting and a cooked colour check. As I only intend growing the black ones next year , I will have to hang on to some of the white beans from this year for taste comparison.

"Bigal" wrote in message
...

'Ophelia[_8_ Wrote:
;1009309']"David Rance" lid wrote in message
...-
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:
-
A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more.
No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.-

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black
was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly
they
are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from the same

plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.-

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

--
'Help for Heroes' (http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/)
If they grow true next year I should have enough to be able to do a
tasting and a cooked colour check. As I only intend growing the black
ones next year , I will have to hang on to some of the white beans from
this year for taste comparison.

It will be interesting to find out I look forward to your report,
thanks


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On Fri, 7 Nov 2014 21:00:50 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly
they are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from
the same plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

No, they're exactly the same. Since we always eat them as young green
beans the seeds haven't yet got their mature colours. (This applies to
the normal coloured ones as well as the black.)

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Nov 2014 21:00:50 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly they
are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from the same
plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

No, they're exactly the same. Since we always eat them as young green
beans the seeds haven't yet got their mature colours. (This applies to the
normal coloured ones as well as the black.)

Ok, thanks, David. What makes their colour change?


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On Sun, 9 Nov 2014 11:12:58 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Nov 2014 21:00:50 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way. I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more. No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years.
They originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought
that black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly
they are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from
the same plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

No, they're exactly the same. Since we always eat them as young green
beans the seeds haven't yet got their mature colours. (This applies to
the normal coloured ones as well as the black.)

Ok, thanks, David. What makes their colour change?

Dunno! Better ask Mendel!

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 9 Nov 2014 11:12:58 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Nov 2014 21:00:50 Ophelia wrote:



"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014 15:11:17 Bigal wrote:

A good crop of runner beans thanks to a 5 year old bed of biochar.
(sorry, I just had to put that in.) So much so that I got fed up with
eating them, freezing them and picking them. I tell my neighbour to
help herself, but she is a bit loathed to do so. So I just let them
grow, thinking to shell them later to use the beans some other way.
I
grew White Lady from saved seed, and a few weeks ago saved some more.
No
black ones. During the shelling I found one that contained jet black
beans. In all my years of gardening I have never come across a black
bean before, and I don't ever recall my father doing so.. (Taking
account of the fact that the beans are eaten green).. By the time I
had finished shelling (between jobs) I had found a total of eighty.
Two of the pods were still joined on the flower stalk, which makes me
think that it was a single plant that produced them. Comments
please, and I am sure that it wasn't the black leaking out of the
biochar.

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly
they are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from
the same plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

No, they're exactly the same. Since we always eat them as young green
beans the seeds haven't yet got their mature colours. (This applies to
the normal coloured ones as well as the black.)

Ok, thanks, David. What makes their colour change?

Dunno! Better ask Mendel!

Hmmm a little too late I fear ;-)

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

In article ,
Ophelia wrote:
"David Rance" wrote in message
...

I have had some black runner bean seeds now for over ten years. They
originally grew from the usual two-coloured ones but I thought that
black was unusual so I selected them and now always grow them.

Occasionally they revert to the normal two-coloured seed but mostly
they are all black. And a pod of two-coloured seeds would come from
the same plant that produces the black ones.

I've no idea what variety they are.

Do they taste different and do they keep their colour when cooked?

No, they're exactly the same. Since we always eat them as young green
beans the seeds haven't yet got their mature colours. (This applies to
the normal coloured ones as well as the black.)

Ok, thanks, David. What makes their colour change?

Dunno! Better ask Mendel!

Hmmm a little too late I fear ;-)

However, there are a few people around who have learnt from his
work :-)

It's impossible to tell which of the possible explanations is
the case without serious investigations, but there are several
common causes. My borlotti means used to be about 2/3 light,
but have drifted to being almost all light - a bit like
ladybirds, they have both dark patterns on a pale palette
and the converse.

For example, it can be caused by a fairly rare recessive gene,
so it rarely happens but will breed true when it does. And,
unless there is selection against that gene, it can remain
at low levels in a population for very long periods.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.