I normally dig a barrowload or two of compost into my dedicated runner bean trench each spring - chucking out last year`s old roots when I do so. This year I hadn`t time, and simply planted out the newly raised plants in mid May, when half of them immediately fell victim to rabbits and pheasants. Not to worry - last year`s old roots are sprouting vigorously, producing 6 or more shoots per root, and have already caught up with my carefully nurtured plants.
