[mandycharlie]

As I don't want to make a fool of myself up at the plot.  Could someone advise.  I don't have any muck, (its too soft for the tractor  to get to my plot yet) or compost (first yr and the old boy used to keep the compost on the plot next door)..

But I did see a piccie somewhere about using shredded newspaper..   Why would you do that?

So... do I need to dig out a trench or what?

Their nicely chitting and I'm not going to put them in this weekend, because of the frost.  

thanks

[WG.]

Shredded newspaper will preserve moisture but will rob nitrogen.  Have you got any comfrey available?

Frost won't affect them under the ground.

[mandycharlie]

The plots clear David, well apart from all the densly packed thick roots that are beginning to sprout in the ground.     We have dug over half way now, the plan is to finish the digging and riddling this weekend.   And in the worst affected part to grow spuds to act as a clearing agent.  (see, even getting the technical terms into my bonce  )

So... I've literally got noffink..

[WG.]

So... I've literally got noffink..

My suggestion would be to plant them as follows.  

1. Put down a line and hoe off any emerging weeds.  Mark the ends of the drill with a cane or stick

2. Shove in a spade, lever backward / forward and then drop the tattie down the back to a depth of maybe 4 inches.  This avoids the compressed soil that you can sometimes get with a dibber.  Equally, you want to avoid big air pockets too.

3. Repeat 1 and 2 as necessary

Aftercare
a) As soon as you can get muck (rotted is best), or comfrey.  Place a layer (3" deep x 6" wide) directly on top of each drill.  No harm in pulling any perennial weeds before you do this

b) draw some soil up over the top of the muck

c) complete earthing up as and when shaws emerge

Just keep them ahead of the weeds and they'll do ya proud.

[mandycharlie]

thanks David, your a star

[WG.]

thanks David, your a star

 :oops:  :oops:
Go plant them quickly Mandy before you get any other replies!!

There really isn't a right way or a wrong way - your average seed potato shows a tremendous willingness to live and reproduce.  Which would make them male, right!  

Keep the hoe going between the drills 'cos these perennials don't like dying either.

[milkman]

Dig a hole a ruler's depth, pop a spud in, cover it back up again.  

Repeat at 1.5ft to 2ft intervals until all spuds have been planted.  

Move onto next task and forget all about them till you see green sprouts peeping through  

[Jim T]

check out how we have done it this year on our site March update

just dig deep

Hi ruffmesiter,
I'm new and looked at your Update.
I was surprised to see that your beans have germinated very quickly.
I have had Dwarf beans and Scarlet Emperor runners in seed beds in the greenhouse for many weeks now and only 2 are reluctantly sneeking up.

I admit I have had no heating until recently.

What do you think is the reason for your success and my failure  :cry:

[beansticks]

Much too early for beans yet JIM T,end of april will be soon enough.

[DD.]

Much too early for beans yet JIM T,end of april will be soon enough.

Fully agree Beansticks. far, far, far, far, far, far too early. (Get the point?)

[DD.]

Dig a hole a ruler's depth, pop a spud in, cover it back up again.  

Repeat at 1.5ft to 2ft intervals until all spuds have been planted.  

Move onto next task and forget all about them till you see green sprouts peeping through  

May I ask what a ruler's depth is ??

[DD.]

check out how we have done it this year on our site March update

just dig deep

Sorry ruffmesiter, I have to disagree with what you've done here.

From your site:

"Finally in this update we are pleased to annouce the success of most of the seed we set to germinate indoors last week, the runner beans are already reaching for the sky."

You are way ahead of yourself and encouraging and misleading others, in their eagerness, too plant way to early.

What are you going to do with these huge plants that can't go outside for 2 months?

It's going to be another month before I comtemplate sowing runner beans.

[Jim T]

check out how we have done it this year on our site March update

just dig deep

Sorry ruffmesiter, I have to disagree with what you've done here.

From your site:

"Finally in this update we are pleased to annouce the success of most of the seed we set to germinate indoors last week, the runner beans are already reaching for the sky."

You are way ahead of yourself and encouraging and misleading others, in their eagerness, too plant way to early.

What are you going to do with these huge plants that can't go outside for 2 months?

It's going to be another month before I comtemplate sowing runner beans.

Hi Digger Dave,

Thanks! I have eventually got the message.
But give me one more piece of advice about the bean seeds I have already planted - including the 2 that are reluctantly peeping through:

Should I leave them or throw them out and start agin in 6 weeks time? And then in the greenhouse, or straight out in the waiting raised bed (where sweet peas are growing already to protect the runner beans?

Its a great forum for advice

[milkman]

a ruler is about 12 inches or 1 foot or 30 cm - you may recall using one once upon a time at school?  

[DD.]

a ruler is about 12 inches or 1 foot or 30 cm - you may recall using one once upon a time at school?  

You plant your spuds at a depth of 12" :?:

6" is usually the max recommended.

12" deep would surely give you problems when it came to digging them up. When they are hilled up, the spuds would be deeper than my fork!!!