Too late for bean trench?

**Martin H** · 23-02-2014, 03:40 PM

There's plenty of time to organise a bean trench, you won't be putting your runner beans in until May.
You shouldn't do it for peas, they won't enjoy the conditions the way runners do.

**Mumbles** · 23-02-2014, 03:43 PM

Ok thanks

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**Thelma Sanders** · 23-02-2014, 05:32 PM

I make a trench for peas, same as beans, without any problems

**andy_j** · 23-02-2014, 06:20 PM

Dug mine today and filled with well rotted cow poo

**Ja9** · 23-02-2014, 09:57 PM

I have never dug a trench as more awkward in raised beds.I find that runner beans always seem to grow very well anyway but was wondering about making a trench this year, does it really make a big difference?

**iGrow** · 24-02-2014, 07:16 AM

One of the reasons to do a trench is for water retention and some just make a trench and place newspaper in it before backfilling.

**Ja9** · 24-02-2014, 10:55 PM

Good thought about water retention, although a little ironic given the recent weather! I had thought of lining it with news paper and droppings from the chicken coup. Then veg peelings on top.

**Ladyslip** · 25-02-2014, 07:27 AM

I'm hoping to put a layer of sheep wool in mine for water retention :-)

**BUFFS** · 25-02-2014, 01:13 PM

I put all the compost bin contents into my trenches, or I will as soon as the rain stops, i got all the wood needed for 8 raised beds but need a dry day to construct them, still, we get this amount regular. the river was up 10-11ft but down again in 12 hours as the rain eased a bit, we have about a cubic yard to bury under beans and outside toms don't seem to mind it underneath them..

**Two_Sheds** · 25-02-2014, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by Mumbles View Post

wondering if it's too late to make a bean trench?

I haven't bothered with a bean trench for several years now. I just grow beans (100s of plants) in my (sandy) soil, which is enriched with mulches

**Philthy** · 12-03-2014, 08:00 PM

Is a bean trench more about feeding, or water retention?

**Kristen** · 12-03-2014, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by Philthy View Post

Is a bean trench more about feeding, or water retention?

Water retention.

The roots of Peas & Beans form a cosy relationship (symbiosis) with soil bacteria which can "fix" Nitrogen from the air into Ammonia that the plants can use, so Beans don't need any nitrogen fertiliser, and the fact that the composting of the relatively raw material in the bean trench needs Nitrogen also works well - even if uncomposted plant material is used (although usually the trench is started earlier and filled over time during the winter - but I'm not sure if it matters if it was filled earlier (it would have been cold, not much rotting-down would have happened) or only shortly before the beans are planted.

By the time the bean crop is done there should be nicely rotted material deep in the soil, and the beans have had the benefit of its ability to hold moisture.

**Madasafish** · 12-03-2014, 09:46 PM

always dig a bean trench-- for the reason our soil is very heavy with clay and the compost lightens it and prevents rotting of early plants..

**daviddevantnhisspiritwife** · 13-03-2014, 01:00 PM

Didn't bother with a trench last year and still had too many runners. Couldn't surpress them and. This year I will be growing the Canadian Wonder wotsits, discarding the pods and saving the beans for dry.

I might have a wigwam of Runners though - just for me to eat and I won't be bothering with a round hole.

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