disposing of broad bean stems

[Helenclare]

Hi all,
My beans are about finished now and have been eaten by weevils and they also have that chocolate spot disease. I would imagine that it would be unwise to compost them and I should put them in my council green wheelie bin? What do you think?

[pigletwillie]

I always just compost them as they really bulk up the bin. Chocolate spot is just unsightly and does not really affect the crop. However if you feel at all uncomfortable with that, the council bin is an obvious choice.

[sewer rat]

I have read that you can just drop the stems where they are after harvesting and rotovate or dig them in. Never done it myself - though could be tempted this year.

[scooby]

you can always cut them atground level leave the roots to rot down to improve nitrogen levels, then burn stems and spread the ashes which are rich in all sorts of nutrients

[Helenclare]

I have cut them off at ground level and left the roots in as you suggest Scooby, and I can't leave the stems in situ to dig in as I need the ground to plant my dwarf beans in Sewr Rat. I think I will risk them in the compost bin as they are really big and bulky and will keep the bin nice and full as PW suggests. The chocolate spot did not affect them too much as I got an amazing crop of beans, far more than the same plants last year. It must have been all the rain that bulked them up. Anyway they were very, very tastey.

[rustylady]

I usually cut them off at ground level, and using heavy duty scissors or secateurs cut the stems into smaller sections before adding to compost bin. If you're worried about disease you can either burn them or give them to the council.

[Two_Sheds]

As my Dalek is nearly full, I will be digging a "man trap" in the ground (just a hole a spit or so deep) and will fill with chopped up beanstalks before backfilling and planting summat else on the top.... possibly kale.