Runner Beans - now I've never tried that!

[djhs196]

In keeping with the latest trends and fashions, I've been reading "Digging for Victory - Wartime Gardening with Mr Middleton" for the very latest advice (at least it was the latest in 1942)...

...and this I've never heared of:

"While we are on the harvesting and storing questions, have you ever tried lifting runner beans and keeping the roots? If you dig them up when the frosts cut the tops, cut off the stems a foot above the ground and store the roots in soil in an outbuilding just as you would with any dahlias - they keep quite well, in fact, they often have tubers on the roots very much like dahlias. They keep well so long as they are quite dry and frost-proof, and you can plant them out again towards the end of April. I don't know that you will get better crops from them in the second year, than you do from seed - not quite such fine beans, perhaps, but you get them considerably earlier, as much as three weeks sometimes, and this year, in particular, it might be well worth doing, because I am told, by people who aught to know, that runner bean seed is going to be scarce and expensive next year."

No Mr Middleton, I've never tried it. Nice insight as what was going on then as well, and the book's a good gardening read as well.

Thought I'd share!!

[Jimmy]

I think our wondeful technical world has distance us from nature and the land.

Our ansectors were much nearer to nature in there daily lives and knew lots of useful stuff that we seem to have lost.

Things like hot beds and walled gardens sound interesting.

Jimmy

[pipscariad]

I've actually done this with runner bean roots with great success, albeit unintentionally. When I dug over my bean bed last year I found several of these tuber like roots which had started to sprout new growth, so I popped them in at the end of the row of bean poles. They grew every bit as well as the rest of the beans, and had a good number of beans on them too. I actually forgot to try it again, and dug them all up at the end of last year . This year perhaps I'll remember!

[Alison]

I've heard this one before but never tried it, runners grow so very quick that it doesn't seem worth the effort. Got given some plants last year (wasn't going to grow them) in April and they were already huge so just planted them out. They survived great and I ended up with beans a good few weeks earlier than I have done in the past when I've planted out in May which is more the norm round here.

[Nes]

My runner beans grew back from the old roots I'd left in at the end of the previous year. I thought they were meant to rot down in the soil to release their nitrogen. Instead I ended up with completely unintentional "Three Sisters" planting, with the beans climbing up the sweetcorn! Not bad, eh?

[sagegreen]

I think our wondeful technical world has distance us from nature and the land.

Our ansectors were much nearer to nature in there daily lives and knew lots of useful stuff that we seem to have lost.

Things like hot beds and walled gardens sound interesting.

Jimmy

Completely agree with this, Jimmy

[Flummery]

Yes, I've heard of it- the plants are perennials where they originate. However, I don't actually like runner beans much. I far prefer the flavour and texture of climbing french beans.

[BUFFS]

hi to flummery,the best of the climbing french beans for me is cobra,good crop,good taste and easy to grow,apart from having to start them 4 weeks later because of location,and they dont seem to mind the cooler summers..

[Flummery]

My preferred for flavour and texture is the heritage Cherokee Trail of Tears. It's like one of those 'cost-the-earth' fine beans flown in from Kenya - but home grown.

I also like beans I can leave to mature and shell out, or dry for winter. I grow loads of cfb.

[nerobot]

Never heard of that. Might try it with this years as a little experiment. Cheers for that.

Steven

[rustylady]

Never lifted and stored them, but last year I just cut the top growth off and come spring (I was a bit late clearing the bean row) they started re-growing. Had an excellent crop.

[Paulottie]

Yes, here again I have never lifted them to store but have had them resprout

Also familiar with Mr Middleton. I have one of his books. ' Mr Middleton Suggests '...an old favourite. Bit of an old gardening book anorak I'm afraid

[gojiberry]

Think I might leave one row in over winter and see how it goes. I know bean seed is cheap especially when you save your own, but if you get beans a few weeks earlier then that is a bonus.

Ian

[Nicos]

Sounds like an interesting idea!
I'll certainly have a go

[Jillyreeves]

How very interesting, never hear of this before.

2009 Runner Bean roots are still in the ground where I cut them off at the end of the season, I wonder if they will sprout if I leave them or if this years winter has been too harsh.