Hello friends!
Some of you will remember the
(http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/pics/APS_heading.jpg) (http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar)
runner bean seeds that I offered you last year.
(http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/pics/aps_illustration-02.jpg)
For those of you who had seeds off me and grew them this season I'd love some feedback from you. In fact if you click HERE (http://www.gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/index.php/topic,187.0.html) you can go to a feedback page.
Now it's that time of the year again when I'm offering my beans - absolutely free - to any amateur grower that would like to try them. It's on a first come, first served basis.
If you would like to go into my 'Little Red Book' then make your way over to:
http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar (http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar)
The beans you request will be despatched around October/ early November - after they are sufficiemntly dried for winter storage for planting next spring. No charge except a donation for postage. The maximum No. of seeds I can spare is up to 24 for each request until I run out. I have to keep a core stock for my own breeding programme.
All the best to you all -
G.
I said yes please last year but somehow did not follow through. Good thing because due to health issues and slugs I have had a disastrous year with runner beans.
I have an issue on site with a tea leaf, so odd coloured things are great. Somehow if they are the wrong colour they do not disappear. Anyone got any sky blue rhubarb?
12 would be a nice number. So yes please again, and hopefully next year I can get my act together rather better.
Quote from: Digeroo on August 02, 2014, 23:46:21
I said yes please last year but somehow did not follow through. Good thing because due to health issues and slugs I have had a disastrous year with runner beans.
I have an issue on site with a tea leaf, so odd coloured things are great. Somehow if they are the wrong colour they do not disappear. Anyone got any sky blue rhubarb?
12 would be a nice number. So yes please again, and hopefully next year I can get my act together rather better.
Not to worry Digeroo - sorry to hear about your health problems - I hope you're better by now.
No problem - we'll get you going for next year! Those Aeron Purple Stars are so vigourous you'll wear the 'tea leaf' out trying to keep up!! (http://www.gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/Smileys/aaron/LOL1.gif)
Just click on this URL link & fill in the bean seed request form - I'll do the rest! (http://www.gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/Smileys/aaron/thumbs-up2.gif)
http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar (http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar)
How exciting, I'd love to try these and have add my name to the list. I asked for 24 as I'm intending to share with my vegetable-growing friends who live nearby. Thank you very much!
yes,id like to accept your offer too !!!!! we were hopeless when we had our plot the runners always seemed stringy.as to whether that was down to us not picking early enough or the variety not being the best I don't know,but ever since weve only grown whole beans
but you know,it know hurts when I need a fix of runners and have to go out and buy them.
In our NEW home my growing area has a frame that I put together that's full of blossoming whole beans but it would be nice to have
some runners growing on the other side of it next term.
Dare I ask.......although coloured does the flavour differ from conventional green runners.
Gazza
It seems you have to register on another forum to leave feedback, it would be nice to have feedback here for A4A'ers to read too :happy7:
Unfortunately no useful feedback from me, I'm afraid I'm having a pants year and haven't been able to grow as much, so I have saved my seeds to sow next year along with the Heritage variety Black Pod (from HSL) which I love, pods aren't that long but they grow and crop well and the taste is very good.
I have registered & applied but then you know me, anything purple & I'm there :icon_cheers: :blob7:.
me too :happy7:
Quote from: gazza1960 on August 03, 2014, 10:40:28
yes,id like to accept your offer too !!!!! we were hopeless when we had our plot the runners always seemed stringy.as to whether that was down to us not picking early enough or the variety not being the best I don't know,but ever since weve only grown whole beans
but you know,it know hurts when I need a fix of runners and have to go out and buy them.
In our NEW home my growing area has a frame that I put together that's full of blossoming whole beans but it would be nice to have
some runners growing on the other side of it next term.
Dare I ask.......although coloured does the flavour differ from conventional green runners.
Gazza
The older varieties of runners did often have a tendency to go stringy - especially towards the end of the season if left to mature a bit long. It's the main source of complaint that people have about runner beans, with memories from childhood. That is now a thing of the past.
I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but I think you'll find these unique runner beans that I've christened Aeron Purple Star after many years of selective breeding are totally stringless & bursting with traditional runner bean taste. The beans lose their purple colouring on cooking BUT the colour is a novelty, their main attributes are atheir vigour, stringlessness & taste. they were the main factors in their breeding, the colouring was a bonus!
Here's an excerpt from someone who left feedback on my Gardeners Chat-Shed Forum:"My very first APS picked at 5pm and on the table at 6pm. Do they live up to all the hype and expectations? They sure do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Topped and tailed there was nothing else to remove. Cooked in no time at all and no hint of the dreaded stringy stuff at all. Well done G a great runner!" - 'Wonky'
Here's another:"I just went out and had a close look at the Aeron Purple Star's, yes, I had to give my head a shake. I've got beans forming, this was not expected as we've been going through a bit of a heat wave for about a week now, nights are a smidgen cooler tho... Most of the beans I'm growing will either not form flowers or if they do they won't make beans when the temp hits the 80's and 90's.
What I have done is hit them with a sprinkler after supper to cool them down a bit. Most of runner's I've grown with the exception of Insuk's Wang Kong sulk big time when the weather warms up, just sit and sulk.
Gee , you really do have a winner here. After everyone's comments I can hardly wait to taste them"
"Update, after reading everyones comments here and on the thread about them in Fruits and Vegetables I went out to have a look at my Aeron Purple Stars, I couldn't believe my eyes I had to go in and get my yardstick. The last time I looked closely at them a couple of days ago they were at the 2 foot mark, I thought then, not bad for only starting them on May 28. WOW!!! they've grown over 2 feet in two days and yes, I can see the little bumps in the leaf axils where the flowers are forming Grin2:-). The poor little Chinese Red Noodles are hiding their heads in shame next to them. I've grown lots of different runners in the past but have never seen growth like this. Can hardly wait for the flowers to appear and then... the first taste. - 'aftermidnight' (Vancouver Island, Canada).
And also this one (there are dozens of others - I have not yet got one negative response, this will be the second season that I've released them to amateur gardeners)"Well just out of curiosity I left a couple of these APS on until they started to become purple....and, I thought, 'we'll soon see how stringless they are'. Bugger me if they aren't completely stringless and as sweet and lovely as a first kiss.
We have some Brummy friends (you'll understand, Dave) staying at the mo' and they all raved about the APS. Well that's good enough for me. They are now my bean of choice". - 'King Tommy'
Also from 'King Tommy':"Now, I have to admit that I am always a bit of a skeptic when it comes to hype over so called new varieties but I have to say that these are probably the best runners I have ever had. I kept one back to try raw and was genuinely amazed at the sweetness and stringless crispness of them...so much so that when Ruth tried some (and she is real fussy over her food), she grabbed hold of the rest before I had chance to finish it. Lightly cooked in less time than the ordinary ones these are a runner-bean revelation, no bullshit from this quarter."
If you want to read more you'll have to pop over and read them for yourself - but I think that's a fair reflection of the feedback I'm receiving. :icon_thumleft:
Quote from: Jayb on August 03, 2014, 10:54:41
It seems you have to register on another forum to leave feedback, it would be nice to have feedback here for A4A'ers to read too :happy7:
Unfortunately no useful feedback from me, I'm afraid I'm having a pants year and haven't been able to grow as much, so I have saved my seeds to sow next year along with the Heritage variety Black Pod (from HSL) which I love, pods aren't that long but they grow and crop well and the taste is very good.
I have absolutely no truck with you putting a feedback board for the Aeron Purple Star on here Jayb. We're ALL of the same ilke - regardless of which forum we frequent, good gardeners are first and foremost good friends. I don't subscribe to parochial 'loyalty' & certainly don't see the A4A forum as some sort of opposing competitor to my own forum.
The beans I sent you last season should be fine for next year - if you've kept them in good conditions. If you DO want a fresh few for next season then you're welcome to go to the request page on my Aeron Vale Allotment Society (http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk) web-site.
A few of you who have requested some bean seeds have asked how they can donate towards the cost of P&P. As you know I don't charge for my Aeron Purple Star, they are freely available on a 'first come first served' basis to genuine amateur growers. But I do ask for my out of pocket P&P costs (there's just too many for me to foot the bill for all the seeds I send out).
No worries. Just sit tight. After you request your seed from the request page on my web-site your details are collected in a data base (what I call my 'Little Red Order Book') for later on when the bean seeds are despatched. I do however respond personally to each request (not always immediately, because I have a few other things I have to attend to in my life - not least my own lottie and my own web-site & forum!!). The information is NOT shared with anyone - it is just for my own practical use.
After I've despatched all my seeds I will send each of you a PayPal donation request via e-mail to the e-mail address you provided (it was about £1.50 last year). That e-mail message that I will send to you will contain a link for you to go to the PayPal site to make your donation. If you don't have a PayPal account that's no problem either - PayPal allows non account holders to pay using a secure debit/ credit card payment facility.
I hope that clears it up for you - so don't be anxious - just sit tight and wait, I'll do the rest!
G.
In terms of feedback I have to say I am not sure the cross is stable yet. Or maybe there is a particular problem with the beans I had.
I have never grown runner beans before, so I don't have a comparison, but my very competitive neighbour is also growing your beans so I can compare with his. Nearly all mine have what looks like deformed, incomplete and variegated leaves and the one bean that has come though so far (20cm long) is/was green. (tasty though, I ate it this morning) His have typical runner leaves and the beans have a red edge before maturing into the purple.
I had 7 beans to start with - one didn't germinate, one is very sad and 15cm high but the other 5 are growing and are about 5ft high. They've been flowering for nearly 3 weeks. They were started in deep pots of MPC at home and are planted in soil with composted stable manure (which I have used everywhere else on the plot, including all my other beans with no problems) and with a few organic fertiliser granules.
I will be keeping an eye on them to see what happens, whether they grow through it and what the beans turn out like. I have photos, but can't post them on here.
Quote from: sparrow on August 04, 2014, 08:41:52
In terms of feedback I have to say I am not sure the cross is stable yet. Or maybe there is a particular problem with the beans I had.
I have never grown runner beans before, so I don't have a comparison, but my very competitive neighbour is also growing your beans so I can compare with his. Nearly all mine have what looks like deformed, incomplete and variegated leaves and the one bean that has come though so far (20cm long) is/was green. (tasty though, I ate it this morning) His have typical runner leaves and the beans have a red edge before maturing into the purple.
I had 7 beans to start with - one didn't germinate, one is very sad and 15cm high but the other 5 are growing and are about 5ft high. They've been flowering for nearly 3 weeks. They were started in deep pots of MPC at home and are planted in soil with composted stable manure (which I have used everywhere else on the plot, including all my other beans with no problems) and with a few organic fertiliser granules.
I will be keeping an eye on them to see what happens, whether they grow through it and what the beans turn out like. I have photos, but can't post them on here.
Hi Sparrow!
All I can say is that of the thousands of beans I sent out last year I've had 100% positive feedback and more amazingly 100% germination figures from that feedback (which I must admit has surprised me a little, even though I know how vigourous my beans are).
You're welcome to view the feedback I've received on the Aeron Purple Star 'Feedback' board at:http://www.gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/index.php/board,34.0.html (http://www.gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/index.php/board,34.0.html)I
'm sure your neighbour will give you a sample of the beans, which he is obviously successfully growing next door to you. As for stability, these beans are not a flash in a pan. I have been selectively breeding them for a number of years and they have been trialled by others on my behalf, both here in Aberaeron and also up in King's Norton in the Midlands. If I thought they were unstable I wouldn't be offering them to others.
VERY occasionally the odd plant can get cross pollinated, but that's very rare (although even the commercial seed suppliers occasionally get a 'foreigner' in their sold stock). I hand pollinate mine, and from this season on a fellow grower & friend of mine will be growing them in total isolation (at least a mile from ANY other runner beans) down in Cross Crediton, Devon.
I would suggest you compare notes with your neighbour (or any other grower of the APS beans that you'll find on here or on my own forum) and see if you can get to the bottom of the problem you are experiencing.
I'm also attaching a growing guide that I enclose with the beans that I send out to other amateur growers (you should have received one with the beans I sent you), but I'm attaching it anyway. You're welcome to e-mail photos to me at my e-mail address - I'll PM it to you. I would be more than happy to help you resolve the problems you are experiencing.
Oops - just realised you can't attach files to posts on this forum - so here's a link to download the guide:http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar/AERON_PURPLE_STAR-info_leaflet.pdf (http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar/AERON_PURPLE_STAR-info_leaflet.pdf)
Mine, which were planted a bit late, are growing well and starting to crop. How easy was it to select for stringlessness? I'm assuming it's a recessive gene or genes.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on August 05, 2014, 00:51:21
Mine, which were planted a bit late, are growing well and starting to crop. How easy was it to select for stringlessness? I'm assuming it's a recessive gene or genes.
Not easy Robert, like many before me, famously like the botanist Calvin Keeney (also known as "father of the stringless bean") who removed the string from the pod via selective breeding in the 1890s I have done a similar thing. Copying his techniques it's been a long labourious effort of selective breeding & keen observation. Using the Polestar as a base breed I've cross pollinated & back crossed other varieties with that bean until I aquired the desired result. The Aeron Purple Star has genetic ancestory that includes the Stenner & Enorma beans as well as other black beaned varieties to enhance the the desired colouration. It's very much a hit & miss thing. You could spend a lifetime doing it without any appreciable advance. Once you manage to achieve what you want you then isolate those plants and hand pollinate them exclusively between themselves. It's very much an observational and practical exercise. After isolating the desired resulting plants I've then had to ensure that they remain stable - with no throwbacks. I've trialled them with different growers over three seasons and they do indeed seem to have a desirable level of stability. Last year - after the successful trials - was the first time that I offered them to other amateur growers to try. They are stringless & particularly sweet and flavoursome. However their biggest attributes are the unusual pod colouring and their unusual vigour. They out perform most other varieties when it comes to germination and rate of growth - as you've probably discovered!
There's probably at least one recessive gene involved, and my guess is that there's more than one. It's obviously going to be a matter of growing one plant per cane so I can check each one, and then identify it again!
Hi BG,
I think my problem is pest-related. I have seen a lot of southern green shield bugs around and first mistook the nymphs for ladybirds. Just found out what they are today after some extensive googling. Apparently they are on the non-native invasive species list and a particular problem for bean growers on allotments in London. Going on my small sample, your beans are very susceptible to their damage, so it might be worth watching the bugs' inexorable march across the country.
I may have used 'neighbour' more vaguely than it's meant. Their's are just over 30 metres away.
Thought you might like to know. :) Am no longer a member of your forum, as I really only joined that to post feedback. There are only so many allotment sites I can read without going boggle-eyed. :)
I have just requested 12 of your Aeron purple star beans, but if they are all gone then no problem. I have also found that this year has not been a good year for runners. My first lot got eaten to death, just managed to produce a few beans for me. I Bought some but they are not doing anything. I sowed some more ( the ones with the white flower) cant remember their name, they are lush and have loads of flowers and up to now tiny little beans. I'm so happy. :happy7: :happy7:
In all this year what with rats and heat then rain, rain, rain, not "been" (get it? )a good year for me. :((
Quote from: sparrow on August 11, 2014, 22:59:41
Hi BG,
I think my problem is pest-related. I have seen a lot of southern green shield bugs around and first mistook the nymphs for ladybirds. Just found out what they are today after some extensive googling. Apparently they are on the non-native invasive species list and a particular problem for bean growers on allotments in London. Going on my small sample, your beans are very susceptible to their damage, so it might be worth watching the bugs' inexorable march across the country.
I may have used 'neighbour' more vaguely than it's meant. Their's are just over 30 metres away.
Thought you might like to know. :) Am no longer a member of your forum, as I really only joined that to post feedback. There are only so many allotment sites I can read without going boggle-eyed. :)
What you say is extremely interesting sparrow. I have to say that I've never come across that pest before. I'll be doing some research. Thanks.
Regarding closing your own member account down on the Gardeners Chat-Shed Forum (http://gardenerschat-shed.net/forum), that's no problem at all, I'm not that possesive over my members!! I'm a firm believer in the freedom of the individual - you can always come back whenever you please. However, you didn't need to close your account down - I don't remove innactive members, as some forums do. You can come and go as you please and you can post or choose not to, I make no stipulations. This old world is already too full of silly rules and regulations and it gets progressively worse - almost a habit - even amongst some forum administrators!!
All the best,
G.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on August 07, 2014, 20:15:45
There's probably at least one recessive gene involved, and my guess is that there's more than one. It's obviously going to be a matter of growing one plant per cane so I can check each one, and then identify it again!
When it comes to a recessive gene Robert, if it's only carried by one parent, then the traits of that gene don't get passed on. If the recessive gene is present in both parents then the traits of the gene ARE passed on (it actually happens with red hair - red hair is present due to a recessive gene, but if enough of the population carry one recessive gene then the chances of finding a mate with the same recessive gene becomes quite high, hence the reason you find so many red heads amongst the Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland & Wales). The same applies to beans. If stringlessness is passed on by a recessive gene, making sure that your plant with that recessive gene pollinates with another plant that also carries that recessive gene will guarantee that all the beans produced by those two plants will grow into stringless pod bearing plants. and so it goes on! Isn't nature's prolific variations wonderful? :glasses9:
Quote from: Jayb on August 03, 2014, 10:54:41
It seems you have to register on another forum to leave feedback, it would be nice to have feedback here for A4A'ers to read too :happy7:
Unfortunately no useful feedback from me, I'm afraid I'm having a pants year and haven't been able to grow as much, so I have saved my seeds to sow next year along with the Heritage variety Black Pod (from HSL) which I love, pods aren't that long but they grow and crop well and the taste is very good.
That's no longer the case Jayb. You CAN leave feedback without joining my Gardeners Chat-Shed Forum. (http://gardenerschat-shed.net/forum)
To do so just click on this button:
(http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/pics/APS_feedback_wh_bckgrnd.jpg) (http://gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/aps_feedback_form.htm)