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Runner bean question
I've been growing them for years - no problems.
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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? (not that I'd ever dream of doing it) TIA. -- Regards, Hugh Jampton |
Runner bean question
On Sep 29, 8:30*pm, Hugh Jampton wrote:
I've been growing them for years - no problems. 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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? *(not that I'd ever dream of doing it) The theory is that you cut them down at soil level and they return the nitrogen to the soil. Like most things, I tried it once and a few of them regrew - but don't put the contents of your child's moneybox on it, because it might just have bean some dried seeds that fell on the ground nearby. |
Runner bean question
Hugh Jampton wrote:
I've been growing them for years - no problems. 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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? (not that I'd ever dream of doing it) TIA. I didn't cut mine off until Winter last year and left the roots in. They got rotorvated back into the ground. Despite having a really hard Winter I was surprised that a few of the roots had survived the Winter and came back up again in May, along with lots of self set runner beans from seeds that had been shed onto the ground! I moved the volunteers - they helped to fill the odd gap in my runner bean patch this year. I think they could probably only generally be kept year to year in frost free climates; the majority of mine died over Winter, there were only a few survivors. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
Runner bean question
"Hugh Jampton" wrote in message ... I've been growing them for years - no problems. 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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? (not that I'd ever dream of doing it) TIA. -- Regards, Hugh Jampton Someone else reported this a couple of weeks or so ago -- Mike The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association www.rneba.org.uk Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight? www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk |
Runner bean question
On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:48:30 +0100, 'Mike' wrote:
Someone else reported this a couple of weeks or so ago I must have missed that :-( What was the thread name Mike ? I'll check it out - thanks. -- Regards, Hugh Jampton |
Runner bean question
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 |
Runner bean question
In article ,
moghouse wrote: On Sep 29, 8:30=A0pm, 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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? =A0(not that I'd ever dream of doing it) The theory is that you cut them down at soil level and they return the nitrogen to the soil. That's one theory. It's right, too. Like most things, I tried it once and a few of them regrew - but don't put the contents of your child's moneybox on it, because it might just have bean some dried seeds that fell on the ground nearby. That happens, but even I (in cold Cambridge) have had runner beans regrow from roots that overwintered. In their native climes, they are evergreen perennials; in the UK, they are normally grown as annuals; but they will regrow from roots, in a herbaceous fashion, provided that the the winter is not too hard. But don't bet on it, because it is reliable only in places like the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands and so on. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Runner bean question
On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 David Rance wrote:
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. Actually, having thought about it overnight, I *do* remember that, a year or two ago, I nearly had some success in this direction. I potted up several bean roots and overwintered them in my conservatory. In the spring one of them produced a new shoot but it wasn't all that strong. However when it was several inches long I planted it out again and what happened? The slugs ate it! Even if it had survived I don't think it would have been any earlier and certainly it didn't look as strong as a seedling would have done. David -- David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK http://rance.org.uk |
Runner bean question
In article ,
David Rance wrote: 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. Actually, having thought about it overnight, I *do* remember that, a year or two ago, I nearly had some success in this direction. I potted up several bean roots and overwintered them in my conservatory. In the spring one of them produced a new shoot but it wasn't all that strong. However when it was several inches long I planted it out again and what happened? The slugs ate it! Even if it had survived I don't think it would have been any earlier and certainly it didn't look as strong as a seedling would have done. I did it successfully with one that overwintered outside (I had missed it when I came to dig them up). It grew vigorously, with more and weaker stems, and cropped perfectly well. But it was nearly a fortnight later than the ones grown from seed - which came from the same packet! Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Runner bean question
It is possible to leave the roots of runner beans in the ground untill the
following year,the problem is, that , 1 they will not crop so heavy,and will get less and less each year. 2 depends on weather, heavy frosts will kill the roots in the ground, as wil a lot of rain, rot them,its a lazy way of gardening,some people lift the roots like Dahlia roots ,store them in a dry shed then plant out in a trench with plenty of farmyard manure, not to deeply dug!!I have found to get the best Runner Beans,(And I Show)is to trench in farmyard manure/kitchen waste and newspaper,in November, wait untill 1st last week in May scoop out a shallow hole at the end of the trench ,broadcast the bean seed in, cover with soil, leave untill they are 4 inches above ground then transplant into the trench leaving an inch of trench uncovered to hold water, in the dry weather!!! url:http://myreader.co.uk/msg/134451300.aspx |
Runner bean question
It is possible to leave the roots of runner beans in the ground untill the
following year,the problem is, that , 1 they will not crop so heavy,and will get less and less each year. 2 depends on weather, heavy frosts will kill the roots in the ground, as wil a lot of rain, rot them,its a lazy way of gardening,some people lift the roots like Dahlia roots ,store them in a dry shed then plant out in a trench with plenty of farmyard manure, not to deeply dug!!I have found to get the best Runner Beans,(And I Show)is to trench in farmyard manure/kitchen waste and newspaper,in November, wait untill 1st last week in May scoop out a shallow hole at the end of the trench ,broadcast the bean seed in, cover with soil, leave untill they are 4 inches above ground then transplant into the trench leaving an inch of trench uncovered to hold water, in the dry weather!!! url:http://myreader.co.uk/msg/134451300.aspx |
Runner bean question
Thanks for the replies - very interesting.
Perhaps just about possible then, but not the best way to grow runner beans me thinks :-) -- Regards, Hugh Jampton |
Runner bean question
On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:30:34 +0100, Hugh Jampton
wrote: I've been growing them for years - no problems. 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. I've suggested that he's misheard what he's been told and probably he's just been told to leave the roots in the ground. But *no* - he insists that what he's told me is correct ! Can't be so - can it ? (not that I'd ever dream of doing it) TIA. If you look closely at bean or pea roots you will see tiny nitrogen nodules... so cutting the tops off leaves the nitrogen there to be absorted directly into the soil. -- http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk |
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