Grow Your Own Magazine

shirlthegirl43 · #1 (**permalink**) 27-02-2007, 09:09 PM

Hi, my younger son loves growing dwarf beans. He has 3 different types of green ones and a yellow type. He would like to try growing some purple podded ones to add colour to Sunday dinner.

Can anyone help by donating a dozen seeds for coloured podded varieties please - I just can't find anything but green in the local stores.

Earthbabe · #2 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 07:26 AM

I don't think I have purplr dwarf but I'll have a look. I got some yellow dwarf from Lidl though so you can have some of those.

shirlthegirl43 · #3 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 07:49 AM

Thanks for the offer EB - already have those ones though. I have replied to your PM too.

Poledragon · #4 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 10:07 PM

Shirl, I've got some purple podded ones somewhere. I'll have a look and PM you if I find them. I think the variety I've got even have purple leaves!

serenity · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 06:44 AM

shirl, I have a few purple teepee dwarf that i could spare, pm your address if you want some. They are lovely plants, the flowers are purple too but the beans do loose their colour when cooked, even briefly

shirlthegirl43 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poledragon

Shirl, I've got some purple podded ones somewhere. I'll have a look and PM you if I find them. I think the variety I've got even have purple leaves!

They sound superb Poledragon - How's Robin getting on by the way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by serenity

shirl, I have a few purple teepee dwarf that i could spare, pm your address if you want some. They are lovely plants, the flowers are purple too but the beans do loose their colour when cooked, even briefly

Thanks Serenity, will PM now - do they keep colour if lightly steamed too?

serenity · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 02:15 PM

in sarah raven's book she advises to steam with a teaspoon of sugar in the water and the lid left off. cook till just tender then plunge into cold water briefly. she says cooked this way they will retain most of the colour. I can't vouch for this as didn't try it but will give it a go this year. I only grew a few last year as there is only me in the house that will eat them, the children won't eat them as they say they squeak when you chew them

this year I am going to mix a few in with the flowers in troughs on the front garden as the purple flowers were quite pretty.

*Feather* · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:35 AM

I've got some borlotti bean seeds if you are still collecting. The pods are bright red with white freckles. Drop me a PM with your address and I'll post some

shirlthegirl43 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the offer Feather. Could I just ask first whether these are dwarf or climbers? I don't have anywhere to plant climbing beans and Sam looks after his own 'pots' of beans.

*Feather* · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 01:17 PM

They are climbers... sorry, I should have read the thread properly.

shirlthegirl43 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 01:20 PM

No worries, thanks again for the offer anyway. Had admired Borlotti for their colourful looks but didn't think they were dwarf types.

*Feather* · #12 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 01:34 PM

ah! there are dwarf types of borlotti, Shirley, but the ones I've got are climbing. Maybe someone else in the vine can offer dwarf ones?

shirlthegirl43 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 01:56 PM

Another lesson learned today! Thanks Feather. I think he now has 5 or 6 different dwarf varieties to try - probably enough for this year!

Hazel at the Hill · #14 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 02:17 PM

Can I be cheeky, Feather, and jump on the bandwagon for the Borlotti?

I'm looking for a climbing bean for my 3 sisters bed, and I'm only going to need a dozen or so seed.

*Feather* · #15 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 05:25 PM

With pleasure Hazel!

PM your address and I'll post them straight away

phil the shed · #16 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:32 PM

feather do these borlotti store well as dried beans.
if so can i get some too

thankful for any small mercies.

Hazel at the Hill · #17 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Feather*

With pleasure Hazel!

PM your address and I'll post them straight away

Can't seem to PM you, feather - have sent you an email instead!

Thank you!

Lesley Jay · #18 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 09:41 AM

Feather you have the PMs switched off. You need to go into UserCP at the top left of the screen, select Edit Options, scroll down to Private Messaging and click in the box that says Enable Private Messaging.

shirlthegirl43 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 09:50 AM

Serentity, thanks very much. Purple Teepee seed arrived today - post office had somehow burst the package and I opened my post box and found a small pile of beans!! Plenty there for us to grow thanks. Can I leave some pods to dry for seed next year or is that not a good idea if they have grown near other beans (as they will all be in pots I can separate them if necessary)?

serenity · #20 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 03:42 PM

I believe french beans are quite well behaved and don't tend to cross. someone please jump in and let me know if this is wrong. The seeds I sent to you are from the original packet ordered last year from sarah ravens site and had 100% germination. Last year was my first growing veg and the idea of saving seed would not have even crossed my mind,

shirlthegirl43 · #21 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 08:10 PM

Last year was my first year too, some success, some failures, learned so much on here over the winter that I am now hoping for much more of the successes this year and also planning what things I have had trouble finding to get my own seed this year. Thanks again for the seeds, Sam is excited about getting some planting done on the next dry day (we were out and about today and got no gardening done)

vicki lorraine · #22 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 09:24 PM

Does anyone have any purple beans left?
I can swap you for some : red rubine sprouts
black churchfield runner beans
red sweetcorn
blue sweetcorn

Please PM me if anyone has any and would like a swap.

Thanks

shirlthegirl43 · #23 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 09:28 PM

Good luck vikki lorraine. I have been given a few blue sweetcorn and some purple teepee, but not enough to share I am afraid. If I have a successful season then I may manage to collect some seed to share next year - that is the aim anyway. Love the idea of sharing seeds for experimenting as it saves the expense of a whole packet which you then chuck out coz the ones you grew didn't work in your area.