Different beans planted together

[Phoenixsylvestris2]

Last Spring I planted some kidney beans and some pinto beans. When I collected the pods, I only found pinto beans from both plants. I think the two cross pollinated because I only got pinto beans from the plants grown. Is that possible? If it is, is there two beans that I can grow that will not do this? Will all beans cross pollinate?

 

[so lucky]

I think Marshall will tell you that beans rarely cross pollinate. People have tried to hand pollinate beans, but it is difficult. the one thing I can think of that would keep me from planting two or more kinds together, is that they may mature at different times, and would be a lot more trouble to harvest at the appropriate time. Different varieties of beans have different growth patterns and needs, as well. some need support to grow on, some don't.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yep, Marshall is our more resident bean expert but not the only one. Can't forget Bluejay.

I think Marshall will also tell you that cross-pollination won't affect this year's crop. It's only when you plant those cross-pollinated beans and harvest them the next year that you will see the effects.

My guess is that the pintos lived and produced while the kidneys didn't, but that's only a guess. You were looking at them, not me.

 

[897tgigvib]

BlueJay77 is by far the true and real expert on Beans here.

You might want to send him a private message thing.

But what the others have said, Beans very very rarely cross pollinate.

Cross pollination naturally of a whole garden crop, every single pod, well, not sure if that has ever happened in the history of the world.

What happens when you plant some varieties in with some other varieties is that the plants of one variety will grow much stronger than the other variety, so that one variety may produce much more than the other, and yet if the 2 varieties had be planted well separated even that much less producing variety might well produce as well as the other one.

Each variety of Bean has different plant vigor. Until it's checked on that they do well together, Beans should not be planted mixed. If you are going to plant them mixed, give them extra space, and make sure they are separated as to pole, bush, half runner, tender pole, or viney growth types. Even bush types have several growth patterns.

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I suspect most or all of your kidney beans did not sprout, and or, something happened to the plants.

Just to be on the hopeful side, did any of your pinto Beans look different? A normal thing that happens with some varieties is sometimes a bean will show up that is mostly the darker color on it. Sometimes, but not very often, the darker bean will "breed true". I think that is from normal selection and does not involve cross pollination usually.

Other times a bean will appear for the bean seed saver who grows many varieties that is a surprise. One plant in among a variety making dry beans differently than the rest.

You see, cross pollination does happen in Beans. Something like maybe out of a thousand pods. But you don't know it! Usually!

Couple years ago one of my Mayflower bean variety plants made some bean seeds at least 3 times as big as the normally smallish bean seeds they make. I packed those separately in an envelope. Then, last year I planted the seeds from that pack figuring, may as well plant these because i only want this many plants anyway, plus let's see if i get a strain of mayflower bean with big seeds. 2 of the plants made normal mayflower plants, pods, and seeds.

One of them though... made a different growing plant, a nice pole, dry bean type pod, not the basically cutshort pod type of mayflower, produced in flushes, then waited and made a few more at late season's end. The beans, they are medium sized, regular bean shaped, slightly flattened, white of the shade and texture of mayflower's unusual texture, not a hint of red or rose on it, but instead, a subtle spray of soft black from one end, very subtle. It has the look around the eye, called the hilum, of Hutterite, a very good bean, which had been growing near the mayflower several years back.

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So, I'm still not sure if cross pollination directly shows up soon as it happens and the bean ripens. Maybe the mechanism of the bumblebee or cutter bee tearing into the flower causes only one bean to develop? Or just a few, so the ones that develop have a chance to be bigger??? I don't know.

I do know that if you are looking for suspected cross pollinated beans, and if you grow enough varieties of beans, eventually you will find them!

I have a few other suspected crosses, but I have to check first.

If you saved your pinto seeds, sort through them for any that are extra or even abnormally large. Also, sort through for the darkest and lightest ones.

Now plant each of those separately from each other WELL MARKED AND LABELLED and see if they "breed true".

THE APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Anything that BlueJay77 says that is different than what I said, go with what BlueJay says. He is so much more experienced than I am. I would only qualify as his assistant.

 

[Phoenixsylvestris2]

You guys are right, my kidney beans probably didn't produce any beans (or my chickens likely got to them when I was not around). I am glad to hear that they are not likely to cross with each other(I learn something new every day). I just assumed they did without doing any research because no kidney's showed up. Last year was my 1st year planting those two kinds so I suspect I did something wrong. All the pinto beans looked the same as the planted ones as far as I remember. I confess, I did eat them. But there wasn't many produced, maybe a handful. I do think I will try the kidney beans again though, and maybe some others.

 

[897tgigvib]

I usually figure plant 50 bean seeds to give you a good sized pot of beans plus another 50 seeds for planting the next year. That's a safe average though. It can vary wildly.

 

[Blue-Jay]

Hey Phoenix !

I just happened to come accross your beans planted together post. Well beans will cross pollinate. Beans are basically self pollinating plants which tends to keep them pure geneticlally. It's not an easy thing to cross beans. However it all depends on how many bees you have working your bean blossoms. Bees are better at making crosses because they are so constantly at work in your garden. However crossing is still usually a very low percentage, but it can happen. Now when a cross does occur you won't see the results right away. Also any characteristic that is maternally inherited won't show up in your plants for another two seasons. Seed coat colors are one characteristic that is maternally inherited. A cross between a black seeded bean and a white seeded bean this season the results of which will not be seen for two more years. So what ever is happening to your beans this season all depends on what ever was going on with weather, or invading animals to your garden. The beans you planted this year are all displaying there already inherited characteristics.

 

[Phoenixsylvestris2]

Thank you bluejay77 for the info!, I appreciate everyones input, I am learning so much about beans(and other plants from this site) . I usually do have a good number of bees in my gardens, mainly because of the flowers I plant for them, but I have seen them go to the vegetable plants as well. Last spring was the first time I planted these beans so if they did cross, I'll never know now but this year I do plan to save some seeds for next year's planting.

I usually figure plant 50 bean seeds to give you a good sized pot of beans plus another 50 seeds for planting the next year. That's a safe average though. It can vary wildly.

Thank you again, I'll keep this in mind tomorrow when I plant them

 

[897tgigvib]

How are they doing so far Phoenix?