As the runner beans come to an end, should I pull them all up and chuck them on the compost heap, or dig them roughly into the ground where they are. I will be growing runner beans in the same place again next year.
EJ, I will sit on the fence and say that either is fine. Or you could leave them in the ground, cover with straw and newspaper and hope they survive the winter, as they can be perennials. If they don't start shooting in spring, chuck them on the heap.
Hi EJ.
Don't dig them out leave them in.Over winter.Cut the tops off if You want.
The bottom in the ground provides a lot of nitrogen back into the soil.,,Jim.
I would suggest that you would be well advised to pull out the old roots in the spring some time before you prepare to plant out the new plants. I have found that the old rotten runner bean roots usually become infested with small white millipede-like creatures (white worms, or symphilids I think), which will quickly migrate to your new plants and cause considerable damage. I lost several runner bean seedlings in a row to these creatures a couple of years ago.
Okay dokey, thanks all. I will cut down the top growth and pile it on my compost heap, leave the roots in the ground for the winter, then pull up February time, giving a couple of months for any creepycrawlies to migrate elsewhere!
Have to say, glad I haven't been to keen to cut them back on my main plot as I picked another bag full of small young beans today and their are masses of flowers, don't know if they will come to much, but I am in no hurry to cut them down, so if the weather holds........ ;D
I am still picking mine also have let some get realy big for seeds for next year. Just call me thrifty ha ha