On 29/10/2011 22:08, Dave Hill wrote:
On Oct 29, 7:11 wrote:
wrote:
Annual or perennial is irrelevant as both die back in winter, so cut
them off at ground level and compost the topgrowth.
Pea/bean roots are best left in the ground because they
have fixed small nodules of nitrogen.

I've always wondered about this nitrogen fixing business. (And I hadn't
realised it applied to peas as well as beans)

Does the root /have/ to be left in, or does it work if you take most of it
out and just leave 'bits' in? Does it help the compost if you compost it?
And what's a beneficial recipient of post-bean sowing? (I've always assumed
beans then brassicas, but I rarely get to test my plans out, as things tend
to get planted in the 'whatever spot is available' location)

I always find it strange that the frost will kill mature sweet pea
plants but you can sow the seed in the Autumn and the young seedlings
will survive the winter.

I always thought the seedlings needed a cold frame (or in my case a
sandwich bag hanging on a hook).