Help needed with forward planning

[Richard&Tracey]

Hi all.

Still a newbie at this gardening lark so could do with a few suggestions please.

I have a small area (approx 5m x 1m) where I grow some runner beans & peas, I did this last year and it was great, but felt I should have planted something after them instead of leaving it empty.

When I finish harvesting the peas & beans I would like to use the ground for something else....but what?....Any ideas of a follow on crop? I'm asking now so that if I need to get some seedlings going I'll still have time to do it.

Sorry for being such a newb! but many thanks in advance

[rustylady]

In my esperience runner beans carry on cropping almost until the first frost, by which time it is too late to plant anything else.

I suppose you could put in overwintering onion sets or garlic.

[Bren In Pots]

Winter lettuce, if you start it of late August in modules it can go in after the beans have finished.

[Richard&Tracey]

Thanks for the suggestions my runner beans finished late in the year but well before the first frost! I do like the idea of reusing the plot. The Lettuce is a great idea, not so keen on onions or garlic but thanks again.

Any other ideas anyone??

[Scarlet]

To be honest by the time your runners are out there isn't much of the growing season left. Nothing much grows during the winter months and you need that bed free by June to put your beans back in - that's a short window. Perhaps try some kale? I'd also suggest garlic as RH suggested, which can go in during October but that's really not ready until late June the earliest, so your beans will be late going in. Leaves are probably your best bet.

[Kristen]

my runner beans finished late in the year but well before the first frost!

They should go on until first frost, but sometimes they get "tired" by then (and Climbing French Beans more so than Runners).

One option is to plant-a-seed when you plant-out the bean plants. That will germinate and be 4-weeks, or so, behind the plants and will thus come up and crop towards the end of the season when the original plants are running out of steam.

Might you have left some pods on the plant unpicked last year? - that would send a signal to the plant that it had reproduced itself, and it would then start to shut down after patting itself on its back and saying "Good job, well done" So important to keep picking the beans, even if you don't have a need for them - which might mean that you need some "holiday cover"

I can't think of anything you could plant after them (except for a Green Manure). Are you going to grow beans in the same place each year? If so then I would concentrate on a crop you could get in early that would be finished by the time that the beans start to get properly up the canes - which is probably not until end of May. Lettuce perhaps? Radishes certainly. Also, it depends a bit on the style of the supporting frame you use, some frames allow for some cropping space at the feet of the beans - particularly a "Munty" frame (so named after the person on another forum who came up with the idea - I expect Google will give you pictures, if not I can provide a link)

[Potstubsdustbins]

Get yourself some pots and then you can thing about curly kale and spring cabbage.

I set seed for these at the usual time maybe a little later and bring them on in pots. When my peas have finished the spring cabbage go in here and as I harvest my main crop spuds the curly kale follows on. That way I have nice fresh greens throughout the winter.

[Penellype]

I follow my early peas with tomatoes or courgettes, the later ones with purple broccoli.

[Richard&Tracey]

Thanks to everyone who has replied

There is some good, useful advice there.

I'm off to look up a Munty frame as I'm liking the idea of that.

Thanks again everyone, it's good to have help as I'm clueless

[Scarlet]

There are a couple of good threads with some creative bean frames. Here's one to start you off..
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...mes_58608.html

[KevinM67]

What about planting something different to peas and beans.

The area is big enough to support a variety of crops, which could make succession planning more bountiful.