Policeman's Boots - Shiny black beans.

Can anyone help identify some runner bean seeds, which I was given, a couple of years back, please? They were shiny black and the person who gave them to me said that he didn't know the name of them but that he, and others on his allotment, only knew them as "Policeman's Boots" - because of their colour. The bean pods were quite long, mostly straight, and a normal green. The beans were, I seem to remember, normal in colour when young but, as they matured, they turned more and more red, getting darker until they became this very shiny black.

As the pods grew older, they became slightly stringy, but this stringiness disappeared when cooked - and they didn't become really stringy until quite late in the season. The black beans turned the normal colour when cooked.

I saved some of the beans but, in moving house six months ago, they were lost and I've lost contact with the man who gave them to me. I'm trying to make contact again but thought, and hoped, that someone here might have some idea what their proper name is so that I could buy some from somewhere.

I'm searching the Internet but have not found them so far. All help appreciated!

R=Thanks, John

 

Just a thought, but can't you buy black beans in health food shops? If all else fails I would try them. Wikipedia has a list of promising sounding variety names, but not your imaginatively-British one!


Black turtle bean varieties include:

• Black Magic
• Blackhawk
• Domino
• Nighthawk
• Valentine
• Zorro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_turtle_bean#Black_turtle_beans

 

Found it for you, John

Wallis Seeds

 

Sorry Madahhlia, but I don't just want any old bean, I want to (hopefully!) identify this one!

Thanks anyway,

John

 

You may have missed Mum's post John Look again.

 

Hi Zigs and Mum!

I haven't missed Mum's post - I was just searching the Wallis website when your message, Zigs, came through but I cannot find anything like Mum mentions on the the Wallis site. I tried VEGETABLES / Peas and Beans / Runner Beans but that's as far as it goes - there are many runner beans but not one described as "policeman's Boots" or as "Black seeded" - at least not as far as I can see. What am I doing wrong!!

John

 

John, when I clicked on Mum's link http://www.wallis-seeds.co.uk/details.php?page_id=7&sub_id=6&product_id=1718 , it came into view straight away. I pretended to order a packet and it put them in the seed basket for me. I think I could have gone on and registered and placed an order,
Jenny namaste

 

Well it can't be that the website is blocked for East Sussex?

 

Hi Zigs,

No, the site's not blocked for East Sussex - not yet! I don't know what I did wrong the first time but, I've found it , now! Brilliant! Thanks Zigs, thanks Mum, thanks all for your help - I'm going to order some!

Hey ho! Hey ho! It's off to Wallis we go!

John

 

Yay John,
GC - the only gardening Forum you'll ever need . Aren't these guys and gals wonderful?
Where are you in East Sussex- near to Battle?
Jenny namaste

 

Yep!, Jenny! They're pretty good, I'll drink to that!

According to Google - we're 7.8 miles (17 minutes by car) from Battle! We are on the northern edge of Bexhill (walking, we can be on the beach in half-an-hour or having a coffee at the "Old Bathing Station", on the sea front). Though we've just moved into the area (7 monthsw ago), I know Battle, Hastings, Pevensey, and Bexhill from many happy days during WW2, which is amazing as I'm still only 27 years old - and have been for over 50 years!

My wife and I drove through Battle, a few days ago, going somewhere from somewhere else but I can't remember where those somewheres were!

Being retired, I. now. don't have time to plan anything - each day just happens and I let it happen - I don't know how I had time to go to work!

John

 

Isn't it wonderful John. I took some pictures of Bexhill seafront on New Year's day when the sky was wall to wall blue. They are on the Members gallery thread, glad you've settled in OK,
Jenny

 

Thanks Jenny,

Yes, we love it! I've got many cousins down here and made many friends - now, I will have many questions for Gardenener's Corner, I have no doubt - that is if the rain ever stops!