Topic: Purple Podded French Beans

[Jayb]

Help, I'm trying to put together a list of purple podded beans, preferably pole/climbing ones. Can you name some for me?

So far I've got;

Purple Podded Pole
'Cosse Violette'
Blauhilde
Trionfo Violetto
Kew Blue
Purple Giant

Purple Queen
Purple Teepee

Any recommendations for good growing and tasting purple varieties?

[Vinlander]

I rely on some 'blue coco' I got 20 odd years ago - lovely ornamental plants, flowers & flat beans - all red/purple.

They also cross nicely in a bad year so I get purple tinges in my others, mainly borlotti, helda and pea bean. Most aren't stable though.

Cheers.

[pumkinlover]

We love purple tepee though it is a dwarf so not quite what you are looking for.
I put it in the seed circle a few years ago.

[markfield rover]

Again dwarf but I am trying Royalty purple pod this year.

[galina]

Sweet Australian Purple from the Seed Circle was very successful here also Viola Cornetti. 

[galina]

I rely on some 'blue coco' I got 20 odd years ago - lovely ornamental plants, flowers & flat beans - all red/purple.

They also cross nicely in a bad year so I get purple tinges in my others, mainly borlotti, helda and pea bean. Most aren't stable though.

Cheers.

That's true!  If any beans are more prone to crossing than average, it's purple podded types.  They make interspecies crosses with Runnerbeans too which are otherwise very rare.    

[Plot 18]

That's true!  If any beans are more prone to crossing than average, it's purple podded types.  They make interspecies crosses with Runnerbeans too which are otherwise very rare.   

Ain't that the truth  I've had some really weird purple blotched runners before now

[Jayb]

That's true!  If any beans are more prone to crossing than average, it's purple podded types.  They make interspecies crosses with Runnerbeans too which are otherwise very rare.    

That's really where I'm aimed 

Thanks for the names, I'd forgotten Australian Purple.

There's also Robert's Royalty (DB), I grew it the year before last, very tasty and really quite productive, ripening seeds was a nightmare though.

Again dwarf but I am trying Royalty purple pod this year.

I've not grown this one, let us know how you get on 

[markfield rover]

I could 'do' Royalty for the circle?

[Silverleaf]

www.beansandherbs.co.uk list these as purple-podded ones (on the Unusual and heirloom bean seed page).

Blue Queen
Carter's Polish
Dinah’s Climbing Blue
Gramma Walters
Purple Giant
Purple Prize
Ryder's Blue Coco

[Vinlander]

 

That's true!  If any beans are more prone to crossing than average, it's purple podded types.  They make interspecies crosses with Runnerbeans too which are otherwise very rare.    

That's interesting, it might be the best reason yet to try the French/Runner crosses and plant them near the purples, (I like runners less than climbing french - even at the same length).

I only grow  runners as a backup, and I only grow white types because when they get too long - inevitably -  white flageolets are more attractive, and won't put off the fussy/uninitiated.

Cheers.

PS. It also begs the question of why all the crosses I've seen have been green - why no purpley ones? - what's not to like?

Are the seedsmen hoping we won't notice when their landrace reverts through instability? (I think I need a "Mr. Cynical" emoji ...)