On 31/10/2011 12:34, Adam Funk wrote:
This year we grew dwarf runner beans in a container with enough
success to encourage trying again next year. I know crop rotation is
important with beans, but the container is perfect for the size of
crop and cane arrangement.

So I'm thinking of dumping the dirt out of the bean container into
another one for growing brassicas, and dumping the dirt used for
something else into the bean container. (I'll mix compost in too.)
Is this sensible, or am I missing something?

Also, should I churn the remains of the bean plants back under the
ex-bean, brassica-next dirt (to put some of the stuff that beans suck
out back in), or just pull the bean plants out and put them in the
general compost?

Thanks,
Adam


The beans (any legume, actually) will have produced nitrogen-fixing
nodules on their roots, and this is very good for brassicas, so you
could certainly do that. However, I once found masses of bean root
aphids on my runner bean roots, so make sure there's nothing nasty
lingering before you bury the bean roots. This, of course, goes for any
used compost or crop pest. Otherwise you can go ahead. Bear in mind,
though, that the brassicas will need a fairly heavy soil mix so that
they are not ripped out of the soil by windage on their (hopefully)
large leaves.

You could, however, put your ex-bean plants on the compost heap if you wish.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay