Overwintering Runner beans

[Bren In Pots]

I've had a go at overwintering a few Scarlet emperor runner beans and it looks like a couple have made it through the winter with new shoots growing from the base.

Will be interesting to see how they compare with the ones I'm planning on sowing with my usual saved seeds.

[Knight of Albion]

Never heard of anyone doing that before.... Will be interesting to see what happens and wheter they produce a crop - and wheter the beans will be tender if they do.

[Bren In Pots]

Never heard of anyone doing that before.... Will be interesting to see what happens and wheter they produce a crop - and wheter the beans will be tender if they do.

I read about it here on the vine a couple of years ago then thought I'd give it a go. I potted roots into dry-ish GH border soil and left then on the Gh bench and only watering them in the last couple of weeks it really surprised me to see those green shoots.

[rustylady]

I did it accidentally one year Kristen. Cut the beans down as usual after cropping but didn't dig the roots out.

We had a mild winter and they re-grew the following year and produced normal beans for the variety.

[Knight of Albion]

That's very interesting RustyLady.

If the climate change theory is correct ... and we get wetter and stormier but milder winters, instead of frosty and snowy winters, it might make it a viable option in the future.
I only had one frost here last winter. Have a nasturtium that managed to go right through (the winter), still going now and in full bloom. So...who knows?!

[Bren In Pots]

Thought I'd update the thread, all 10 saved plants are now a decent size and producing multiple shoots.

[Bren In Pots]

Another update the runners have been in the ground just a week and are already flowering.

[Goldcrest]

Really impressed - I tried it with chillis (again) this year, but only got 2 out of 20

However, I was really chuffed that I managed to keep asparagus peas and watercress over the winter (the latter looks a bit ropy but it's self-seeded now and coming back)

I wonder if you can overwinter any other sort of summer peas or beans?

[Two_Sheds]

a couple have made it through the winter with new shoots growing from the base.

yes, my neighbour has some too. we only had the one night of frost this winter and no snow

[Marb67]

I found the same with my runner beans. They started sprouting again but I threw them out as I thought they would be no good. having read this I have jollywell put them back in to see what happens :-) I like seasons to be proper. Love snow, frost etc. I find it depressing that it's getting warmer :-(

[veggiechicken]

How did they do Marb?

I'm going to try this next winter with some plants that are growing under cover. Leaving the roots in the ground, a big mulch of straw, maybe a plastic topcoat, and hope they survive until spring.
Thanks for inspiring me Bren

[rana]

I have kept runner beans going for 3 years however in my experience cropping was by far the best in the first season.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks Rana I thought that might happen so maybe I'm best saving plants from this years sowings with just a couple of my last years.

[Noosner]

Thanks Rana I thought that might happen so maybe I'm best saving plants from this years sowings with just a couple of my last years.

Are you getting beans from them now Bren? How do they compare with last year's crop?

[Bren In Pots]

Are you getting beans from them now Bren? How do they compare with last year's crop?

Nooser they cropped about a week before this years beans and produce more beans because they thrown up 4 or 5 stems from the base meaning each plant had two canes.