Re: Missing Green Bean?

**R* M* M* <r*@comcast.net>**

I don't know much about this particular runner bean but will say there  
are problems with good "true to type" maintenance of pole beans. The  
processing industry uses bush beans, and growers like the quick yield.  
Still, pole beans are great for home gardeners. There are a few  
attempts to clean up some of the old varieties.

Small growers who most want to do this live on the West side of the  
Cascades where I live and that poses a particular problem. We grow  
great beans for eating but not for seed since our soil has  a  
pathogen, halo blight which is seed borne. The certified seed is grown  
in Idaho where they walk the fields and rogue out any off type plants,  
again easier with bush beans. I should mention seed harvesting is also  
easier for those farming bush varieties.

More than any of you probably wanted to know, but, as owner of a seed  
company, it's a major concern. These old varieties don't just stay the  
same without continuing scrutiny and reselection. Beans in particular  
revert and there are similar problems with peas though both these  
plants are pretty much self pollinating, the genes we want to  
encourage may not be the ones that prevail.
Rose Marie Nichols McGee
Nichols Garden Nursery
On Nov 3, 2009, at 10:56 AM, Mary Henry wrote:

> Gene,
>
> The Seed Saver's 2009 Yearbook had listed variously "Dutch Runner
> (white seeds), White Dutch Half Runner and White Half Runner." The
> last one was offered by 3 different individuals from AL, OH and TN.
> The other two were offered from CA and MN. The White Dutch Half Runner
> offerer noted that "purchased seed may be contaminated with white dry
> bean seed" meaning non-snap bean seed. That may be why fewer are
> growing them. No mention of any disease problems and these folks do
> note such things.
>
> Mary Henry, retired
> Tacoma, WA area
> s

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