[Anton]

Fellow gardeners, last autumn I dug a trench as instructed in a gardening book and throughout the winter I chucked in vegetable waste. The idea is that should be covered over with soil when the time is right for putting down runner bean seeds. Well of course, the waste has shrunk and I have now pulled in soil from the two sides but I am still left with quite a depression. Question would it be foolhardly to plant my runner beans in a depression (I plant my courgettes in hollows as it makes them easier to water) or it just aesthetically odd? The earth from the trench was used to level up the soil outside as the garden goes into an incline.

Anton

[Trillium]

I've no idea what the weather in Belgium is like, but if you don't get frequent heavy rains as they get in the UK, then it would be a good idea to plant the runners in that depression and catch what water you can rather than have to add water.

If you do get a lot of summer rain that might possibly rot the runner roots, then it's not a good idea. You'd need to mound up the soil.

Celery would love a wet trench if you can't do the runners.

[JayG]

Agree with Trillium - also it mainly depends on your soil.

If your soil is like mine and doesn't know the meaning of the word "puddle" they will benefit, but if you are in danger of creating a mini pond around your beans in wet weather then it's not such a good idea, although the compost itself will certainly improve the natural drainage.

[Anton]

Thanks for the prompt answers. Loamy soil  and yes it does rain a lot here in Belgium but it is slightly warmer than in England I imagine. Despite the clayey soil the water doesn't seem to gather in puddles during heavy rain, not in the case of my courgettes, anyhow.

Anton

[Trillium]

Sounds like the runners should be okay then. They can be thirsty when in full growth.

[Anton]

Shouldn't have said loamy. Clay soi is what it is.

[Christine]

I fear that if you soil is clay as in clay like me, then indents encourage puddles. Runner beans may be thirsty but they don't swim.

[Trillium]

You were trying to trick me, Anton.  If you've got clay (like I have) then see what you can find that will bulk up the soil a bit toward a mound and plant in that. Could be old grass clippings, shredded leaves, some purchased soil, etc. This should help with water runoff since clay soils can really hold the moisture when it rains and rot those roots.