dig in or dig up

[Lizzy56]

as I am now in the process of removing stuff which has come to its end, can I please have some advice as to whether to dig up stuff or to dig it in. I have read lots of stuff about beans specifically but does this work for other things eg kale, sweet peas, courgette, squash, tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse etc. Is there anything which must be dug up (obviously aside from diseased stuff)?

[rustylady]

I usually pull up the top growth and roots and put them on the compost heap.

[zazen999]

Beans and peas are different.

I leave corn stalks all winter as ladybirds do hibernate in them; and I had a lovely ladybird population this year and very few aphids; so I'll do the same this year.

[peanut]

I leave corn stalks all winter as ladybirds do hibernate in them; and I had a lovely ladybird population this year and very few aphids; so I'll do the same this year.

Brilliant thinking!!

I always leave my flower boarders overwinter for Ladybirds etc....it never occured to me to leave the Sweetcorn for them!

I shall leave them be for the bugglies!

[maytreefrannie]

I usually leave some green on beds, for instance, loads of borage came up in one section, I have folded down the now-withering stalks, put some cardboard over and will let that to its own devices for the winter.

In another bed, I'll cover over any annual weeds left, maybe add a few more and again leave it for winter. Not much plan here I suppose, but it's a simple way to add some nutrition. Of course, the greens used must be 'light' and easily broken down, and of course any weeds must be annuals.

Anyway, that 's my thing, born of laziness.