Cross runner beans

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Bear, Feb 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM.

  1. Bear

    Bear Apprentice Gardener

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    I like the idea of allowing varitys of runner bean naturally cross and keeping seeds year after year, this year i bought Mergoles and celebration runner beans , which of these vairtys should i havest the seeds from this summer to gareentee a cross breed seed and not end up with self fertilized seeds (beans)
     
  2. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Before anyone suggests I might know - Sorry, although I have been involved in many bean trials I have never been involved in crossing them and don't know anybody who has tried it. :noidea:
     
  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    You'll need to do the pollination by hand to guarantee success
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I thought I read somewhere that beans and peas can, can, self pollinate before the flowers are fully open.
      Not sure if that is true but to make a sure cross will involve removing the male parts of each flower selected as a seed parent before it can self pollinate.
       
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      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        Breeders have crossed French and Runner beans and these include Moonlight and Firestorm among others.
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          Runner beans tend to self fertilise.
          I would be inclined to grow a plant of each away from the crop for the kitchen. You will need to decide which to be the pollen parent and which the seed parent. On the seed parent remove the male parts (stamens) and isolate from potential pollinator with a little mesh bag or similar. Then taking a small paint brush transfer pollen from the pollen parent to the female parts of the seed parent. Again isolate the seed parent flower until the bean begins to develop. Then harvest the beans from the flowers you pollinated after they have dried off.
           
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          • infradig

            infradig Total Gardener

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            Given the probability that you will harvest and enjoy the bean pod rather than the embryonic bean seed, what advantage do you seek ?
             
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