Runner Beans + Onions 'Bad Companions' ?

[mikey]

Morni'n all ...

I have this idea that Runner Beans and Onions are not good companions in close proximity

Talking with 'Village Elders' last evening, they claim no problem, they grow fine together

Am I wrong (it has been known  ;) ;D)

thanks
Mikey

PS looks like the 'makings' of a lovely day here, clear Blue Sky and 22C in direct Sun (thermometer on South facing wall)

[mikey]

[growmore]

I wouldn'  think there  would be a problem as both like soil conditions very similar ..Plenty of humus in soil, Ph slightly alkali etc..Only prob I could see would be if you  put your runners anywhere but to the North of your onions ...If you did you would be  restricting sunlight to    them 

[agapanthus]

Apparently they do make bad companions...however,
I grew them together last year and put a plastic
barrier bewteen them and had no problems.

[potterfanpete]

Why wouldn't they be good companions? They are from different families...but don't reall so how that affects it.....

[debjay]

hi
found this hope it helps  ;)
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/companion.htm

[Larkspur]

I've grown them together with no problems ;)

[cambourne7]

the weather here is over 28 degrees and i have just popped back to pick up some parsnip seed.

what a day!

[Trixiebelle]

Ah yes ... the great companion debate about onions and runners. The story goes back many, many years to a small allotment site in the Cotswolds.

Apparently there was a 'petty squabble' between a bed of onions and some Painted Lady runners. It started off very trivially .. you know the sort of stuff:

ONIONS: "Hey runners! You need STICKS to grow up, we don't, ner ner"
RUNNERS:" Yeah well, you only have one onion per plant and WE can produce loads so ner ner to you too"

The squabbling escalated to such a degree that the Chairman of the Cotswold Allotment Association had to intervene and harvest them all prematurely. Even as they were loaded into the wheelbarrows, the runners could be heard jibing at the onions:

"You've been harvested EARLY you have and you look like SHALLOTS! HA HA HA!"

And the onions just sat grimacing at the runners plotting their revenge.

Despite the very best efforts of the Chairman, the 'word was out' on the Veg. street and the news spread quicker than a tub of spreadable margarine.

If you MUST plant them near each other, my advice to you would be to sellotape their mouths shut. Things can get very ugly when they think you're not looking and it just erodes the camaraderie of whole plot.

I wish you well  ;D

[mikey]

hi
found this hope it helps  ;)
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/companion.htm

Debjay,

there is no doubt in the list at the link above ... 'do not put yer Beans and Onions near each other'  thanks for that. I will plant them apart (but tel a fib to the 'Elders' just to keep everyone happy)

Trixibelle, like it, great wit, you should be on the stage ... scrubbing it  ;D

thanks guys for your thoughts and humour

have a great Easter weekend
Mikey

[theothermarg]

i have read that in the past but i have grown them next to each other no need to tape their mouths up just put them back to back so they can,t see each other
also when you talk to them keep your voice very low or you will give the game away       marg ;D