The Poultry Keeper

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2071 Location: North Cornwall

Today I dug a trench were the runner beans are going later.
I have a choice of what to put in the bottom. Does anyone know what would work best.

Well rotted cattle muck.
Chicken poo and shavings, about a year old.
Well rotted grass clippings
or homemade compost

CP · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:28 am Post subject:

I've no idea, but why not a mix of all of them? Confused

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

i'd mix them all you'll have the longest runners ever Wink

suz

Lisa · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:14 am Post subject:

Oooo lucky beans Razz

I've used compost or some sort of manure before, and used grass clippings (though not rotted down) as a mulch on top of the soil instead to help keep any water in.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

ripped up news papers are ment to be good as well at the bottom of the trench .or flat news papers as mulch Wink

.
have you tried over wintering runner beans
suz

Lisa · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject:

I've heard you can overwinter them, but they only last for a few years as they get weaker?

Personally I don't have the space to store them, but I'm quite taken with the idea of trying to save seeds from a variety of my veggies this year (currently working my way through "back garden seed saving" by Sue Stickland). Apparantly runners cross quite easily (with the help of those pesky bees) but there are ways round that...

mojo · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject:

mrs mojo has been going mad planted 21 differant sorts of seeds yesterday from the stock you sent.........thanks again