what beans would you recommend

[chris]

Im growing moonlight and firestorm runner beans as they're self pollenating and i like growing new things. Got dwarf hestia (runner) for tubs, Liberty and Armstrong (both runners) for the show bench, Speedy (dwarf french) and blue lake (climbing french)

These are all for the allotment and ive already prepared and filled the trenches with cow poo !!! They'll all be sown in pots in the greenhouse in late april

I grew hesita this year - won't be again. Like all dwarf beans they're prone to slug damage as they're so low- bit the main thing is just the lack of yield. I accept it's a lot lower than climbers but even my DFBs yield more than hesita.

I grew mine in pots, so had to stay on top of watering and feeding - they may do better in the ground.


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[Two_Sheds]

where would I purchase borlotti beans?

Borlotti beans are a type of French bean, so if you struggle to grow heat-loving beans, they might do poorly for you. Have a go though, you won't know unless you try.

Borlotti beans are sold dry in supermarkets, in the pulse/healthy eating aisle. You get a big bag of seed for about a quid.

[rary]

Thanks for the information folks, and TS thanks for letting me know that Borlotti like heat I may give them a try if I have space, at present I would rather grow new ones that have a fair chance of giving a good crop.
So I will now start the ground preparation by opening up some trenches and filling them with horse manure and if I can acquire enough kitchen waste etc. I will fill the end section of the trenches with that to see if there is a difference in performance. One other point, I remember being told to put old cans, open end up, into the bottom of a sweet pea trench to stop the foliage turning yellow, the cans
apparently act as a water reservoir for the roots and will rot away and adds minerals to the ground, has anyone tried this or see any problems using it for a food crop?

[veggiechicken]

Old cans - as in bean tins? Don't much fancy it myself as there'd be a rusty old can, just waiting to be dug up and attack you.
Why not line your trench with newspaper to hold water?

[rary]

Old cans - as in bean tins? Don't much fancy it myself as there'd be a rusty old can, just waiting to be dug up and attack you.
Why not line your trench with newspaper to hold water?

Well I was asking about growing beans I understand what you mean about cans being dug up, but if they are placed at the bottom of a trench and covered by kitchen waste etc. I would think they would rot away after a season or so, but as I go through a lot of beaked beans with five grandchildren who like them I will give it a try and let you know whether it was a success or not and if they rot away.

[Dorothy rouse]

Don't cans take a long time to rot down? Sorry have missed the point?

[Two_Sheds]

I would rather grow new ones that have a fair chance of giving a good crop

Do you mean you want to buy growing seed rather than eating beans? I grow from supermarket beans wherever possibly, they nearly always do better than the proper seed beans

I will now start the ground preparation ... trenches and filling them with horse manure

Again, no need.
I used to do it (because "everyone" says you're meant to) but now I don't bother. The trenches aren't for feeding anyway, they're for water retention (beans make their own food ~ nitrogen)

Runner beans do well in cooler, wetter weather. The Frenchies do better in drier, hotter weather. Plant both and you will get something

I don't use horsemuck either. Again, no need.

[rustylady]

One other point, I remember being told to put old cans, open end up, into the bottom of a sweet pea trench to stop the foliage turning yellow, the cans
apparently act as a water reservoir for the roots and will rot away and adds minerals to the ground, has anyone tried this or see any problems using it for a food crop?

The cans won't rot, and won't do anything good for your crops. Put them in the recycling bin.

[rary]

The cans won't rot, and won't do anything good for your crops. Put them in the recycling bin.

Well rustylady I intend to find out as I will be putting them in the ground this year and if nothing else they will hold water in the ground,

Do you mean you want to buy growing seed rather than eating beans? I grow from supermarket beans wherever possibly, they nearly always do better than the proper seed beans]


[I used to do it (because "everyone" says you're meant to) but now I don't bother. The trenches aren't for feeding anyway, they're for water retention (beans make their own food ~ nitrogen)

Runner beans do well in cooler, wetter weather. The Frenchies do better in drier, hotter weather. Plant both and you will get something

I don't use horsemuck either. Again, no need.

I likethe information about using the supermarket beans which will give quite a saving. Thanks very much.

I have a free supply and delivery of horse manure and when you get that you dont look a gift horse in the mouth
and yes I have read your post about no need to use horsemuck I personally would prefer to use cow manure but as I said....

[Two_Sheds]

I have a free supply and delivery of horse manure ...and yes I have read your post about no need to use horsemuck

I have never said DON'T USE horsemuck: I say you don't need to use it. Big difference. Like you, I use whatever I have to hand (parrot & GP muck)

[rary]

A question T.S. I caught a bit of a program on the telly where they were feeding cows ash tree leaves and branches and I think some other types of trees, would that not have made the manure a bit more beneficial to the garden with additional nutrients/minerals than what we have now?

[chris]

A question T.S. I caught a bit of a program on the telly where they were feeding cows ash tree leaves and branches and I think some other types of trees, would that not have made the manure a bit more beneficial to the garden with additional nutrients/minerals than what we have now?

What's your thoughts behind that? The cow will absorb as much nutrient as it can, and then pass the waste out- as above really it's used to add bulk for moisture retention. There's trace elements present in fym/horse muck - but bar that it's all about the water.

Your thought of the cans holding onto water is good but it won't work as I think you're expecting it to the roots aren't that deep, you'd be much better off either planting into a trench or just using your compost. I do both, and don't notice much difference but I do feed them.


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[rary]

What's your thoughts behind that? The cow will absorb as much nutrient as it can, and then pass the waste out- as above really it's used to add bulk for moisture retention. There's trace elements present in fym/horse muck - but bar that it's all about the water. Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

What I was thinking was that animals eating a varied source of food would introduce other trace elements and nutrients that is not present in grass alone. It was just a thought when you consider the change in the mineral content of the food we eat nowadays