On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 Hugh Jampton wrote:

My neighbour (new to veg growing) tells me that an *expert* in a garden
centre told him that he should leave the roots of his runner beans in the
ground at the end of the season and they will grow again next year up the
same canes - he won't have to plant new ones.

Sounds like he's been talking to a know-it-all! In theory it could work
but our winters are just not mild enough to make it reliable. I've never
managed to make it happen. As Tony said, the reason for leaving them in
is so that they can return nitrogen to the soil.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk