Trench for Runner Beans

[Cerinthe]

Hi,
Yesterday I dug the trench were the runner beans will go later. I have a choice of things to put in it, which one do you think will work best.

Well rotted cattle muck
Chicken poo and shavings, about a year old
Well rotted grass clippings
Homemade compost.
I also have a lot of wood ash in bags to keep it dry.

Thanks

[andrewo]

Put in the manure, grass and compost, anything that will retain moisture and have plenty of feed for the beans. Wouldn't use the woodash on the beans, would use it on garlic or fruit. Grass clippings I would use with potatoes.

[Lesley Jay]

I would use your homemade compost and manure to put in the trench.

[pigletwillie]

A common theme on our site is bean trenches dug in the winter and any stuff normally destined for the compost bin gets put in them and are then covered over before the beans are planted. I must say prefer to put manure and compost out of the bin in it, just like Lesley.

[andrewo]

It is okay to put in cuttings, veg scraps into trenches in Autumn, leave open to the elements for a while and then cover with top soil and plant. It works and retains alot of nutrients and heat as it decomposes, as many of the crops that need this, such as beans, like warmth it can help with their growth and unlike manure will not scorch their roots.

[Green Great]

I would suggest the matter first, then the chicken pellets for slow release however these plants dont require alot of nutrients as it can make nitrogen from the air through its leaves and use that as food.

[Cerinthe]

Thank you all,

after reading all your replies, I am thinking of digging the cattle muck into the bottom of the trench and then adding a layer of compost on top of that to help with moisture retention before replacing the soil. Does that sound OK.