SAVING THE ROOTS OF RUNNER BEANS

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 21

SAVING THE ROOTS OF RUNNER BEANS

Runner beans among the most popular kitchen garden crops, have the disadvantage or being rather late in cropping, and unless special precautions are taken, beans are available for use only, over a comparatively short period. Moreover, they are most appreciated early in the season, so that any simple means of obtaining crops before the natural season is worth a trial (says ‘ Popular Gardening,’ London). . Many growers are able to secure early beans by raising plants under glass or by the use of cloches. These methods, however, are not always practicable, either for reasons of time, space, or, economy. Equally good results mav he obtained with very little trouble* bytreating the beans as perennials. In pre-war days it was usual to lift a number of runner bean roots, store them over winter, and grow them on a; second year. Equally good crops may he obtained in this way as by seed sowing, and the beans will be ready a fortnight' earlier. The roots should he lifted as soon as the tbps are cut down by frost. Lift carefully to avoid undue damage, and wash off the soil under the cold water, tap. Stand in a dry, airy place until thoroughly dry then pack them in boxes filled with equal parts of leafmould and sand. ‘The leafmould should be passed through a Jin sieve and the mixture should be slightly damp. Place the boxes in a frostproof shed until the roots are needed in spring. Towards the end of March (Septemher m New Zealand) the roots may be started into growth, still in the storage boxes, either in a frame or in. the greenhouse, and by hardening them off gradually they will be ready for planting out by the end of May (November).' Since they already have an established root-system they will make vigorous growth and will produce a heavy crop considerably in advance of the ordinary sowings. 4