Hello fellow growers!
It's that time of the year again when I'm starting to send out my unique bean seeds to fellow amateur growers.
I've been breeding them for over fifteen years, they are the only true purple podded beans that I know of in existence - it's been a long road but well worth it.
For more info go to: http://http://aeronvale-allotments.org.uk/aeronpurplestar/ or just type Aeron Purple Star into your browser.
You can find out what others have said about these beans by going to: http://gardenerschat-shed.net/forum/aps_feedback_form.htm
I give away these beans every year for free to amateur growers who request them, and I only rask a nominal £1.50 to cover my postage and packing costs. As I only have a limited number available the most I can share with any one individual grower is 24 beans. So it's 'first come - first served'!
G.
Thanks you very much Big Gee ... I have ordered 12 beans to grow out next year.
Is there a proper way to ensure that the beans are pollinated but not crossed with any other runner bean variety in the vicinity? Do the flowers have to be hand pollinated and bagged, or do I need to find somewhere 7 miles from another runner bean grower (significantly harder I presume)?
squeezyjohn, yes unfortunately runnerbeans are promiscuous. It is a case of bagging flower trusses and pollinating daily with a tiny paintbrush. Or live in isolation. Some runnerbeans self pollinate better than others. This means that bagging a flower truss and gently shaking it is enough, others definitely need the paintbrush help. Not sure (yet) which one Aeron Purple Star is. BTW I would describe them as brown, rather than purple, at least on our soil.
These were nice beans here and I will grow them again. In fact I have harvested the roots for frostfree winter storage and hopefully the same plants will grow again next year.