Bean cross-pollination

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I grew Blue Lake beans from the dig-in freebies, very pleased with them so saved some seed - but they are much bigger than the original seed, have they crossed with the nearby runners? And will my runners have been crossed too? I just never thought......

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[Bugloss2009]

I've noticed that our saved seed is bigger than seed from a packet. There's no benefit for seed companies in giving us big seeds - costs them in fertilizer and time, I suppose, for no gain for them

They won't have crossed with your runners, but your runners may have crossed with other runners. I save runner bean seed, even though they cross so easily. I buy a new packet after a few years and start again

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Thanks, Bugloss, that's a relief.  I am in an isolated garden not an allotment, so my runners have kept the same for over twenty years........I did like those Blue Lakes, though, thanks to whoever on this site pointed me to the dig-in stuff!

[Digeroo]

I have got the occassional rogue in French beans but in general they come up true, so would expect your blue lake to be ok.   

There is a type of runner which has been crossed with a French Bean (moonlight) but I do not think it was easy to achieve. 

[Bugloss2009]

I might grow Moonlight next year. Though I wonder if the poor crop of runners this year for me hasn't anything to do with pollination, but just because runner beans haven't liked this year's weather.

[aj]

They will shrink a bit whilst they finish drying out as well, so will get smaller [even though you might not notice it happening]...

[Ninnyscrops.]

Scarlet Emperors always do me proud and did my grandpa too, sowing saved seed since 2005  ;)

Ninny

[saddad]

Yep, basically Broad and Runners cross breed French don't...  :-X