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Two questions- Why do we only give this special treatment to beans- aren't there other hungry plants that would benefit? And does it really have to be 2ft deep and 2ft wide as recommended in yesterday's Guardian?

I really dont know Caroline,.but I have done a bean trench every year so far,I think only because its a handy place to dump our sweetcorn plants once they are over,after giving them a bashing with a hammer.Plus its the one job I get done by end of November,so i feel Ive got a start on the next year!

we do squash, cucumber , courgette and melon pits very similar but with a a mound on top  ;D

I havent ever done a trench but have a huge surplus of beans every year! I have considered it to help with the watering (I do water the beans well) - do those of you who do it still do lots of watering or not?

Beans aren't a hungry plant, but they do need a lot of water.... That said I'm trying to put 6-8" of manure over my entire plot this year.....

Quote from: caroline7758 on February 06, 2011, 11:05:37
Two questions- Why do we only give this special treatment to beans- aren't there other hungry plants that would benefit? And does it really have to be 2ft deep and 2ft wide as recommended in yesterday's Guardian?

The guardian journalists want to come and try my land, Oxford clay, Kimmeridge clay and Boulder clay. The worst mix you can have. I'd like to see them get back ache instead of tongue ache. 2ft deep that's a joke, you don't bring that subsoil (clay) to the top. A full spit is good enough for runner beans, Enorma pods 15" to 18" long. Keep them nice and damp in the Summer.

Didnt dig a trench last year, and we had an enormous glut of beans, and some were enormous, way too many, I was sick of them, dont see the need in my opinion.
I also read somewhere that the theory that you leave the roots in the ground for the nitrogen in the "nodules" on the roots is unproved also..

When I plant runner beans I put a empty plastic water bottles with their bottoms cut off a few inches away from the plant so that if there is a dry spell ( "If" ) then I can apply the water direct to the roots. I mulch the top soil with leaf mould.

My understanding of why we do it is that the beans produce their own nitrogen you are not risking the "Nitrogen robbery" that happens when  the micro-organisms break down the raw compost materials. Lining it with newspaper keeps the moisture in.
Two feet deep that reminds me of the time I asked OH to dig me a trench in the back garden, when I  went to check on procedings he was digging up lumps of sandstone from the sub-soil area.   :-X :-X :-X!
I don't do it now, but intend to try the idea by powerspade
Anne x

I have not bothered to do a bean trench for over three years now.  I think that it may be important if you are not moving the runner beans around the allotment.  They are part of my rotation now so I don't see the point in digging big trenches just for them.  

I find digging in manure or compost and then watering now and again with comfrey liquid seems to give me all the beans that I could ever want.  

I have never done a bean trench just a really good barrow load of well rotted horse manure. Dig it in form wigwam over the top and plant.

the trench idea is to create a water-holding sump

i think bean trenches are just another antiquated  garden technique
like sucker pruning on tomatoes and firming the ground for broccoli plants.

brassica's do need a firm bed, even the farmers roll the soil heavily before planting out

Quote from: tonybloke on February 06, 2011, 21:59:12
brassica's do need a firm bed, even the farmers roll the soil heavily before planting out

I agree with that Tony, I'm moving over to no-dig, but did not dig the brassica patch last year and my sprouts are superb (good job as every thing else got killed by the snow)   ??? ;D

tonybloke sorry inform you but teegee disproved that one last year.

sprouts 'blow' in loose soil ?

After reading this I have seen the error of my ways and thought that the beans are not going to get all the goodness from my composted waste. I shall spread it around to the others plants which will need it more than these will.
Scratch the trench idea and give the whole garden the benefit of composted material.

Now I doubt that there is anything in the name,  ;) but Tony has got it right.  Brassicas do need firming for several reasons. 

One of the main ones for me is to give Brussel Sprouts a firm base and this stops the buds from 'blowing' or going soft. I find that making sure that they have no fertilizer, manure or compost helps as well. 

Second reason is because it helps to prevent cabbage root fly from getting to the roots.

Third reason is because it helps to stop the taller brassicas toppling over in wind. 

I hasten to add that this is just anecdotal and I have not seen any research that suggests that firming is a good thing to do but like a lot of other gardening old wives tales, there may be some truth in it.   

I plant them deep to try to keep them more or less upright - not that I'm fussy - but what little firming I do is aimed purely at that.