[BigA]

I dug up my runner beans this weekend and put them on the compost heap.  I noticed they had big fat healthy looking tubers and wondered if anyone had tried keeping these and growing plants from them the following year?

[Eristic]

Yes I have tried it and it is not worth the bother. They do regrow but not any better than a new plant and it is easier to store a jar of beans than a box of tubers that must not dessicate or go mouldy.

[Heather_S]

Plus those roots are full of nitrogen which is part of the reason why you grow beans... for their roots that fix nitrogen into the soil from the air, thus enriching the soil once they rot down.

[muntjac]

which is why you dont dig them up but cut them off at the base in winter  

[BigA]

Thanks for the advice.   I've still got the tubers, so will bury them again!

They'll might grow again next year anyway

[James]

I did, by accident!  I left the roots in last year... and planted this year's beans very close to last years.  Lo and behold, suddenly there were sprouting beans in April.  Actually, they were slower than the seeds.

I also tried roasting them with lemon juice & olive oil, which worked quite well.