First time saving seeds

16 years ago

This is my first time saving seeds from my bean crops. I think I'm addicted.

Something interesting happened with the cornfield beans I got from a swap. The seeds I got were a light tan to darker reddish brown with dark brown stripes running the length of the seeds.

The dried seeds I've been harvesting are of two markings: 1 is a buff with dark gray-brown stripes, and the 2nd is dark gray-brown with buff stripes. They're the reverse of each other. Did they cross with some other beans? The garden is small so different kinds of beans were only a few feet apart. Or were they the offspring of crossed parents?

Either way, I'm interested to plant them this fall.

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Comments (6)

zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
16 years ago
With many bi-colored beans, there is often a small percentage that have reversed colors... so chances are, there is no crossing involved. I had several beans last year that demonstrated this characteristic.

If there were seeds of an entirely different color than the original seed, or with a different pattern, that could be crossing.
fliptx
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah they're a completely different color from the parent seeds, although the patterning is the same. Well, we'll see what grows out of them this fall! They're pretty seeds, that's for sure.
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jimster
16 years ago
Approximately what percentage have reversed colors?

Jim
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
16 years ago
FlipTX, Do you remember the variety name, or was it given to you with the seed?
fliptx
Original Author
16 years ago
"Approximately what percentage have reversed colors?"

Too soon to say for sure... Most of the pods are still drying. I've only picked five dry pods so far and three of them had the pale w/dark markings, and the other two were dark w/pale markings. None so far have been colored like the parent beans.

"FlipTX, Do you remember the variety name, or was it given to you with the seed?"

They were just referred to as "cornfield beans". I'll see if I can find a record of the swap because I'd like to ask the sender where he or she got them, if there's any family history with them, etc.
rodger
16 years ago
A couple of comments. First fresh seed are always much lighter and brighter than old seed. The seed you describe are similiar to the rattlesnake pole beans My fresh seed are tan with dark streaks seed that has been in the freezer for a few years of the same variety is very dark brown but was light tan when it was put in the freezer. So age of seed affects color. Second item is you would not see any crossing from this years seed. Beans do not show crossing in first generation. It wouldn't be till next year that anycrossing from this year would show. So if there was any crossing it would have been from the previous year grown. But I'm with Zeedman by your description it doesn't sound like crossing only variance in the seed pattern and a different hue since seed are fresh. Rodger