climbing beans

[wattsy]

grown my 1st crop of beans this year could someone give me advise on how, when i can take the beans out ready for next years planting

Just to make my request for advice clearer when is the right time to collect the seeds from the beans so i can have them for next years planting crop.

[Gwen11ian]

Just cut them off at ground level when you've harvested all the beans. Leave the roots in the soil for next year so future plants can use the nitrogen stored there. My runner beans are at their most productive currently, and still sending up lots of fresh growth and flowers.

[rustylady]

grown my 1st crop of beans this year could someone give me advise on how, when i can take the beans out ready for next years planting

Same as any crop really, when it has finished producing useable crops dig it up and add it to the compost heap.

[Flummery]

If you want to collect seeds from the beans, leave some pods on the plant. The vines will look rather untidy and the leaves will yellow but leave the pods as long as you can. If the weather continues rubbish you might need to bring them inside to dry completely but ideally you would let them dry on the plant. If not, bring the whole pods indoors and put them on some old newspaper till they dry crisply. Then shell them out and store them in envelopes in a dry place. That's it really! Good luck!

[Two_Sheds]

grown my 1st crop of beans this year

what beans are you growing ?
Runners or Frenchies?
what variety?

[wattsy]

Runners Variety unknown but verry productive just keeps growing and producing beans and more beans.

[Two_Sheds]

well, runner beans are half-hardy perennials. In theory, if you can keep them frost-free, you can cut the tops off (leaving the roots in situ) and they'll regrow next year.

Usually, because of cold winters, we grow them as annuals, ie fresh seed/plants each year.

Therefore, cut down your plants only when they've stopped producing beans. You might want to leave the roots in the ground anyway, as they will enrich the soil for whatever comes after them.