[MOLUSC]

I have been looking around on various forums and it would apear the general thing to do is dig a "bean  trench" before  planting runner beans.
Is this a good idea and does it work?
What should i put in it ?
AND am i too late to dig one?

[mumofstig]

Not too late haven't done mine yet. This is how i do mine......
Dig trench and put in, as you get it, anything that you would put in the compost bin, plus thick cabbage stalks and torn up newspapers and cardboard.(make sure papers and card are wet through when you cover over with soil) cover each addition with a little soil. Finally put all soil back over about 6 weeks before you want to put your beans in this gives it time to settle a bit.

[Bombers]

No, You're too early!
Leave until the earth has warmed a little.(End March/Early April)  Dig your trench about 8-10" deep and  throw down some newspaper in the trench (to retain moisture). Then, fill it with partially composted material/kitchen waste from your composter. Good luck with your beans, what variety are you growing?

[mumofstig]

Funny how every1 does things differently.... my BBC gardeners' world diary reminds me to do it in January...........so i thought i was late Bombers:D 

[DD.]

I do mine well before planting.

About 10 mins before.

[woodburner]

lol I used half rotted bokashi compost in mine just before I planted out my runners lol. They still did well.

[Steve.P]

Just goes to show, i did nothing to my beans last year. Built the wig wam, planted two beans at the bottem of each bamboo cane. Watered well and watched them grow. Could not keep up with them while they were growing. Bet its not that easy this year

[MOLUSC]

Thats great, im going to start a trench as soon as the weather will let me.
Ive got some "Enorma" runner beans from moreveg to plant in late spring.(it says on the packet)

[bailey]

a couple of years ago I dug a trench about this time of year,, i paced an old mattress at the bottom of it then but what went in the compost bin on top then covered in soil,,

I had the best beans anyone had seen on the estate, an old fella who had been growing beans for years and mine were better, put it down to the mattress as it held the water.

[Bombers]

a couple of years ago I dug a trench about this time of year,, i paced an old mattress at the bottom of it then but what went in the compost bin on top then covered in soil,,

I had the best beans anyone had seen on the estate, an old fella who had been growing beans for years and mine were better, put it down to the mattress as it held the water.

Deffinately, the water retention is the key. I don't think I could get a whole matress in, but plenty of newspaper, and later on, I cover the base of the plants in grass cuttings, to 'hold' as much of the moisture in the ground as possible.

[Celtic Eagle]

Plenty of time yet won't start mine till next month at the earliest.

[Ian_P]

I do mine when its warmer and I like to dig! Usually before the beans go out.

BTW What's bokashi compost?

I

[Brambles]

I tried a 'bean trench' three years ago.. never had such a poor crop!   I usually just dig in lots of compost before planting..   Will not do a trench for kitchen waste again, though I will try lining a trench with newspaper and grass cuttings for water retention this year, maybe just on half my beans, and do the rest as usual..

[woodburner]

I do mine when its warmer and I like to dig! Usually before the beans go out.

BTW What's bokashi compost?

I

Basically, it's compost made with bran covered in Effective Microbes. The most important thing about it is that it doesn't smell half as much as rotting veg usually does, so it's ok to keep the (special, -and very neat - ) bucket in the kitchen.

[Green man]

No we haven't made ours yet and come to think about it we didn't last year!!
But this year we will as we will have more time.