Major Cook’s Pole Bean Seeds

This European heirloom bean originates with a Mr. Luxton of England. Mr. Luxton Senior received these beans from a colleague of his, Major Cook, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Albert, France. Major Cook was rebuilding WW1 cemeteries there in the years after WW2. But he had also been a gardener trained at Kew. HSL states that they believe Major Cook likely got these beans from his grandfather Alderman Vokes, who possibly developed these beans at Southampton around 1900 as an experimental horticulturist. The bean is listed as a multi purpose bean, used both as a dry bean as well as a snap bean. Green pods are splashed with purple, with a slight curved shape. These matured a bit late for me, but I nonetheless was able to dry all the pods down under cover in my carport. Very productive, 4 plants can produce a lot of beans.  2022 seed.  Gratefully received from the wonderful collection of Artur Kobylecki, Kielce, Poland.