I just podded my Red Epicure seed, and it obviously crossed with Aquadulce Claudia last year, as half the beans are green. I must have planted them too close together. Rats! Or maybe not. I've been thinking of doing a breeding project, and if I added Crimson Flowered and selected, I could possibly produce a red-flowered red bean, with extra hardiness supplied by AQ. Anything else I should add to the mix?
Lol, I thought red flowering coloured seeds would be fun too!
I went with Vitelotte x Crimson and Red Epicure x Crimson. Just grew the Red Epicure x C this year and white flowers are dominate but I did have some interesting colour combinations from some crosses. Next year I'll grow one patch with a few more Crimson alongside to see if I can get more plants with coloured flowers.
If they are of interest I've already added some of this years seeds to the swap.
"Red Epicure X Crimson Flowered, (2nd and 3rd year for growing this mix, gave approx 75 red to 25 white seed beans this year. Most were usual white/black flowered although a few red and other colours pink etc. Early pollination was not great, but a lack of bees and un-seasonally warm weather I think impacted rather than them being naff beans. Plants went on to produced a decent crop, pods ranged in length but were comparable to parents. Next year who knows! These were again open pollinated but grown in polytunnel, no other beans in the area)"