Topic: Growing Runners on the Ground?

[Emagggie]

Doing a bit of forward planning and contemplating moving the bean trench in front of my shed out of the wind, plottie neighbour says he,and others on our site grow them along the ground :o He says he must have had 70lbs at least this season. Does anyone here do this?

[saddad]

Not tried it myself.. would be worried about losses to slugs and snails... have seen them grown on a frame about 4' off the ground... with the beans hanging down... gives more stability on exposed plots..
 :-\

[calendula]

only once when the supports blew down and I just left them  :o trouble is this takes up a lot of room so skyscraper style is better than bungalow  ;D

[Emagggie]

I did think of the back ache it would cause me, but if the yield is better, maybe it's worth it.

[cornykev]

All my lower ones virtually on the ground have been nibbled at the bottom so I wouldn't give it a go.  ;D ;D ;D

[Barnowl]

All my lower ones virtually on the ground have been nibbled at the bottom so I wouldn't give it a go.  ;D ;D ;D

Ditto

[Stevens706]

If we have another wet summer wouldn’t the beans lying on the wet soil rot, where beans plants like lots of water and would do well if grown up supports. Just a thought!!

[tim]

They would take up 8 times the growing area?

And risk trouble, as said.

[Emagggie]

Then I'll stick with plan A.  On reflection, the frenchies got nibbled, so maybe it aint such a good idea. I'm going to look at plottie neighbours tomorrow, just to see  ;);D