On Friday, July 5, 2013 5:17:49 PM UTC+1, Judith in England wrote:
I always pull up the old roots and start again from seed in the next year.



I have been reading that you can actually leave the roots to over-winter.



Any experiences? Worth while?

Why bother when you could eat climbing french beans which don't go stringy and tough. A June sowing will go on cropping until the first frost.

Jonathan

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:42:42 AM UTC+1, Judith in England wrote:
On 5 Jul 2013 23:28:53 GMT, wrote:



Judith in England wrote:

I always pull up the old roots and start again from seed in the next year.



I have been reading that you can actually leave the roots to over-winter.



Any experiences? Worth while?



I thought the entire* point of runner beans was to leave the roots in

so that the nitrogen-fixing nodules of the roots conditioner the soil

ready to make it your brassica* bed next year.





I must admit - I do actually chop off the stem above the roots and leave them

in the ground until next year when I plant the new seedlings.



I had heard what you have said - but I have no idea whether it is true or not,

or whether I am actually doing the correct thing.



I am probably asking for trouble -but I have grown my runner beans in the same

place year after year. None of this crop rotation lark!!!



I am actually trying a couple of courgettes between the rows this year - as

that three foot gap seemed to be wasted!!

Three foot! why?

Jonathan

On Sun, 7 Jul 2013 14:48:14 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:42:42 AM UTC+1, Judith in England wrote:
On 5 Jul 2013 23:28:53 GMT, wrote:



Judith in England wrote:

I always pull up the old roots and start again from seed in the next year.



I have been reading that you can actually leave the roots to over-winter.



Any experiences? Worth while?



I thought the entire* point of runner beans was to leave the roots in

so that the nitrogen-fixing nodules of the roots conditioner the soil

ready to make it your brassica* bed next year.





I must admit - I do actually chop off the stem above the roots and leave them

in the ground until next year when I plant the new seedlings.



I had heard what you have said - but I have no idea whether it is true or not,

or whether I am actually doing the correct thing.



I am probably asking for trouble -but I have grown my runner beans in the same

place year after year. None of this crop rotation lark!!!



I am actually trying a couple of courgettes between the rows this year - as

that three foot gap seemed to be wasted!!

Three foot! why?

Jonathan


I had not realised that there was a legal maximum or a legal minimum.

Why not?

On Sun, 7 Jul 2013 14:48:14 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

that three foot gap seemed to be wasted!!

Three foot! why?

Perhaps so one could ride a bicycle down the rows.