Soil for Runner Beans

[vikkib]

I got 9 out of 12 Enorma runner bean seeds to germinate in loo rolls and they have suddenly had a crazy growth spurt and are going mad!

I've got my eye on a bit of the grass, next to the fence, that I can dig up and dig over and I'm just wondering what preparation I need to do while I'm hardening off the beans.

With the bed for my peas I took the turf off, dug out the soil to a spades depth, forked the soil under that, sieved the soil I dug out and discarded the stones, and then mixed in some well rotted manure.

Do I need to sieve the soil for the runner beans too? (I'm know, I'm just been lazy!)

I've read that the soil needs to be rich but not to add manure. What else can I add to enrich the soil? It's only ever had tatty grass grown on it for a a long time as far as I know. I've got some blood, fish and bone and multi purpose compost.

Any advice very gratefully received!

[SarzWix]

I wouldn't bother sieving all the stones out, unless there's more of them than soil, or, they're really big. In which case you could just take them out by hand. Carrots and parsnips need stone free soil, but beans won't be that bothered.
If your manure is well rotted then that would be ok mixed into the bottom layer of soil - runners are quite greedy. If the manure is a bit too fresh then go with the MP compost mixed in with the BFB, that will help to hold some moisture in the soil and release some nutrients too.

[Snadger]

Moisture is the main requirement of runner beans. People have even filled trenches with old newspapers just to conserve moisture. If you think about, an 8 foot wall of foliage requires a lot of water to stop it going limp, so loads of moisture retaining organic matter should be the order of the day!

[Sanjo]

I was told many many years ago by an old bloke who sold me my first RB plants that a surefire way was to dig the trench to a spade's depth. Line it quite thickly with WET newspaper (or wet thoroughly afterwards) and then top up with grass clippings.
I have done this ever since and I am usually successful with my runners.
This year (having joined this site and read the advice being given) I dug my trench in February, Lined it with the newspaper and layered the depth with part rotted home compost (too early for the grass clippings!!) and cardboard. I then covered the lot with black membrane and left it until I used it late May.
Some of the beans are already almost to the top of the 6' canes and are the strongest and healthiest beans I have ever grown.
I have also placed a 1 litre drinks bottle between alternate plants.
I cut off the bottom but left on the screw top and punched two small holes opposite each other on the neck .
It makes it easier for filling the bottle as it seeps away slowly and I can then see how much water I am giving.
I had been going to have the hassle of finding a new spot for my beans this year but being limited for space I was glad to see that some grapes use the same ground, just renewing the soil/compost.
So far this appears to have been a great success so, all being well, I shall continue to do this for the future.

[Two_Sheds]

I've got my eye on a bit of the grass, next to the fence

Soil is always very dry next to fences, so I would definitely be lining your trench with wodges of wet newspaper.
Possibly a mulch of wet newspaper too (topped with soil so it looks tidy)

[vikkib]

Thanks everyone!

I wouldn't bother sieving all the stones out, unless there's more of them than soil, or, they're really big. In which case you could just take them out by hand.

There's only a few, what I call, big stones (i.e. bigger than an inch) and I've picked out as many as possible.

If your manure is well rotted then that would be ok mixed into the bottom layer of soil - runners are quite greedy. If the manure is a bit too fresh then go with the MP compost mixed in with the BFB, that will help to hold some moisture in the soil and release some nutrients too.

The well rotted manure I've got is bought from a garden centre type place so I presume it is actually well rotted. It's this stuff:

Organic Blend Farmyard Manure | Organic Blend Farmyard Manure Bag | Organic Blend Farmyard Manure Suppliers | CPL Creative Garden Ideas

Soil is always very dry next to fences, so I would definitely be lining your trench with wodges of wet newspaper.

Will do!

This year... I dug my trench in February, Lined it with the newspaper and layered the depth with part rotted home compost... and cardboard. I then covered the lot with black membrane and left it until I used it late May.

I'll definitely do this next year!

I have also placed a 1 litre drinks bottle between alternate plants. I cut off the bottom but left on the screw top and punched two small holes opposite each other on the neck . It makes it easier for filling the bottle as it seeps away slowly and I can then see how much water I am giving.

Time to get drinking those mixers I guess! Pimms and ginger anyone!







(Guess whose just figured out how to use the multi quote function?!?!)

[SarzWix]

Your bagged manure will be fine I'm sure, mixed in with the soil underneath the beans

[vikkib]

Your bagged manure will be fine I'm sure, mixed in with the soil underneath the beans

Fab - I'm so excited! Some of the 'seedlings' are over a foot tall at the moment and are looking a bit daft in their loo rolls!

Everything else is in pots at the moment so the peas and the beans will be the only things in the ground for now and it just feels a bit more like 'real' gardening!