Collecting Cobra bean seeds……

[Rhys]

Charles

I’d like to try and collect some seeds from the climbing bean plants this autumn and have left a few fairly large pods on the vine for the purpose.

A couple of questions:
1. Does leaving such big ones on, whilst continuing to harvest others, inhibit the harvest at all?
2. How long should I leave the pods to mature before harvesting them and culling the plants (I was thinking end of October but am open to education)?

One other observation recently is that both climbing beans and runner beans respond hugely well to comfrey tea when there’s also rain about – I gave them 2 litres of 1:50 dilution of my tea per 8 plants and the acceleration in pod development/growth prior to harvest was very good indeed. I’m going to have another go early in the week on the next fruit day, as there’s still plenty of young beans on the runners with a harvest looking likely to extend well into October in the absence of frost…….

[Rhys]

Sorry, typo, I meant ‘two GALLONS’ of comfrey tea per eight plants…….basically, a good sized watering can full.

[charles]

Good plan to leave a few large pods for seeds now, it may slow new growth a bit, but worth it for having the seeds. I saved some last October and they germinated, grew superbly. Harvest seed pods when the pods are starting to dry, after going yellow. If the weather is not too damp, wait until pods are dry-brown but if its damp weather, finish drying in the house.

[Rhys]

Thanks, Charles, that’s just what I needed to know. Appreciate it greatly.

[Rhys]

I harvested seeds this weekend and have more than enough for next year. The best seeds had changed colour and had a red tinge to them, some were much larger than those I bought last year and others smaller but clearly ready.

Then there were others that were still white. Will those ones be worth using (I’ll only use them as back-ups but worth having if they are OK) or are they not sufficiently mature to work well??

[charles]

I don’t think the white ones are fully formed so better eat them! Great that you have plenty of good, black ones.

[ElizaD]

Hello,

Having grown Cobra beans for as long as I can remember I am looking for a change this year and have narrowed my search down to Blue Lake and Cosse Violette. Any plus or negative points of note that I should be aware of, e.g. yield? Cobra have always given me a very good yield in the past and have still been quite edible after growing huge while I’ve been on holiday.

Thanks,
Eliza

[Andy]

Over the years I’ve grown quite a few different varieties of climbing bean,including Blue Lake but not Cosse Violette.But since growing Cobra 4 years ago I’ve grown no other climbing or runner bean.The yield is exceptional and like you said Eliza they are edible after growing huge.(unlike runner beans)

[ElizaD]

Thanks for this, Andy. I too gave up on runner beans as I usually have one longish spell when I cannot harvest and therefore production ceases and large and inedible beans end up on the compost heap. Not so with French bean Cobra, production may slow but everything oversized is still fit for my plate.

I am still thinking of trying another bean, maybe Cosse Violette, but may have to grow grow some Cobra too, as a back up.

Anyone else have a favourite French bean? And why?

Thanks,
Eliza

[charles]

Golden Gate Eliza, lovely tender, sweet and flat pods, climbing French.

[ElizaD]

Thanks for this, Charles, I will look up Golden Gate, sounds good!
Sorry for delay in reply, iPad probs.

[Author]

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