On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 20:18:58 GMT, "Padger"
wrote:

With any water butt it is a good plan to filter the intake - a nylon
stocking - tights etc. should do. Also keep light out - helps to prevent
algae'

Thanks for that .. a good tip ;-)

I seldom water anything in the garden including runner beans and still
manage to get red cards at shows.

That's not like 'Off' as in a football match is it? (I assume a red
card is a good thing in gardening shows?) I have been told that runner
beans 'need a good watering' by more than one person though?

The secret is in the ground preparation which should start as soon as poss.
Incorporate lots of home made compost, manure, in fact almost anything
organic which will help with water retention.

Ah, well this bit of ground got a quick turn over with a fork, most of
the bindweed pulled out of it and that was that ..?

Feeding and cultvation though
is another story as is choice of varieties.

I bet .. I'm only a beginner remember ... maybe next year?

All the best ..

T i m