Have got my broad beans in after starting off under cloches. They should be ready in June and I was thinking of putting in some runner beans straight afterwards in the same place (very short of space).
Will this damage the soil for next year or will I be ok if I add plenty of fresh compost in the winter.
No problem soil wise but I should think you will need to start the runner beans off in some pots so that you can plant out good plants to shorten the time up to harvest.
I don't mind planting legumes in the same soil, some people have a permanent runner bean setup! There should be useful nitrogen in the soil for the runners from the broadies if you just cut the broadies off at ground level and leave the roots in, so I would do it and see what happens. This year I'm planting broadies where there were broadies last year, ditto peas, although there has been an overwinter crop in between.
Thanks
I just wasn't sure if it would take too much goodness out of the soil.
Will start the runners in pots at the start of June and plant out when the broads have finished.
You could also follow the beans with Toms as they too will like the soil and benefit from the extra goodies. ;D
As long as you feed the beans and/or soil, you should be OK growing two hungry crops in succession.
Looking at all the warnings of a drought this year, do make sure your soil is in good condition with loads of water retaining matter, newspapers, spent hops from brewing, anything you can get your hands on. I have been digging a lot deeper this year and piling in organic waste matter like there is no tomorrow.
Two crops will be fine on the same spot, but don't forget to rotate next year.
Timely advice growbe, off to mulch when the wind drops ::)