ideas to plant with runner beans

welovemarmite

down the allotment I will have two wig wams with runner beans up them, sort of checkerboard style. That means I have two square patches within them with nothing in. I was going to use this space to plant something, but not sure what. Any ideas?

oldtractor

lettuce or courgettes

noimad

Have you thought about a variation on this traditional companion planting method called 'three sisters planting' [not allowed to post a URL yet but a Google search will give you plenty of links]

Basically the beans provide nitrogen for the squash and sweetcorn, the squash keeps down the weeds and the sweetcorn provides support for the beans.

safestored4

I've never tried the sweetcorn but agree about squashes of all descriptions. I have put a small variety of pumpkin under, and between, our four wigwams for runner and French beans. At present they are under cloches as the weather is still so cold. This worked out very well last year as the pumpkins remained fine to use well into the new year. As an added bonus we saved the seed and have had a 100% success rate with germination, saving the cost of a packet of new seed.

welovemarmite

my courgettes are already planted in pots, and not a fan of squash. Might put some sweetcorn in. I could put some spinach and rocket in? THese are our favoured salad leaves.

cyclonebri1

I may be an oddball, but I like to grow Gladioli as cut flowers next to my beans, I can't give a reason other than an orderly row or 2 nice strong upright glads fits in well with the equally geometric cross lance style of bean canes.

Purists won't agree but I plant what and where I see fit:D:D

It fits in nicely as at the time I'm about to put my beans out, the local garden centres are cheaply off loading end of seasons gladioli, and unlike some bulbs they can be planted late with little ill effect.

noimad

Agree wholeheartedly with cyclonebri1 as I squeeze flowers in wherever I have room on my plot - helps keep the weeds down gives my plot more of a cottage garden feel.

culpepper

Nasturtiums, they will lure the asphids away from the runner beans and they look lovely and bright in big splashes of colour.
Its easy to save the seed for next year too.

welovemarmite

wonderful ideas. I have some nasturiams planted that i have no idea where to put. And, i want to put some flowers up the allotment in order to attract pollinaters and generally be bee friendly! So thats it sorted!!!
I also have some marigolds growing, and I am sure I can find a few other things to put there.
Thank you all!