The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Anke on May 23, 2018, 03:52:35 pm

Title: growing different varieties of french beans
Post by: Anke on May 23, 2018, 03:52:35 pm
My seed packets say to grow different varieties of beans at least 10m apart - I want to grow for beans for drying, but several varieties and relatively close together (all inside the polytunnel) - will the beans be inedible or is this just for seed saving (which I am leaving for next year then)?
Title: Re: growing different varieties of french beans
Post by: PK on May 23, 2018, 05:00:53 pm
As you suggest, I think that advice must be in respect of cross pollination if you wanted to save your seed for them to come true. I can’t think of any other reason to grow them that far apart.
Title: Re: growing different varieties of french beans
Post by: Fleecewife on May 24, 2018, 12:03:59 am
I'm growing 8 varieties of french beans all in a polytunnel, no gaps.  Some are to eat fresh, some for drying - I'm not expecting any problems.  Did you get your seeds from one of the companies which encourage saving seed?  That's likely to be it.
Title: Re: growing different varieties of french beans
Post by: Anke on May 24, 2018, 03:56:38 pm
Yes I have just plonked them all in together n the polytunnel, as I think that's the most likely place where I can get them to ripen fully this far north… I hope it is just for seed saving, they came from the "Beans and ?" whatever seed company and germinated very well.