Runner Beans - Same Place Every Year?

Yes it is important to get the orientation correct in order to grown another crop underneath. The idea is to get the sun into the frame, so the open side should face south, on that photo above in my post #14 the sun should be coming from the right hand side:



This following photo is mine, I've modified it to get a longer overhang at the top, so I can pick from the path, and also raised it to about 7ft high to allow the beans a bit more dangle space. As you can see I'm putting the extra space to good use, storing compost

 

That is what I do fileyboy.. My trench is in the same place every winter & I get excellent crops..

 

This may be relevant only if you don't need to use the space under the frame.

In my trialling of different systems I found that I got, overall, better results with the rows in a N/S orientation rather than E/W.

Also, once in a N/S orientation, there was a much better cropping at the northern end than the southern end and a slightly better cropping on the east side than the west side.

The plants on the east side cropped between one and two weeks longer than the west side - for the last three successive years.

Although it may seem that the beans would have a natural predilection for growing towards the south I found no correlation between their growth pattern and orientation. Once they reached the top of the poles they went off in every direction, more or less equally.

 

@intel

I've had a quick look and you can get them cheaper than that. I buy them in bulk but even if you just wanted 40 you can get them for £1.15 with free postage

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POLESTAR-...ULTIPLE-AMOUNT-LISTING-FREEPOST-/360853807775

the same seller is also doing them cheaper - at £1.10!!!
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/grahamdn1a/RUNNER-BEAN-DWARF-FRENCH-BEAN-/_i.html?_fsub=406775011

I'm probably going to buy 400 for £5.45

 

If you're not selling the beans then saving your own is by far the best way to go.

I never leave any plants for them to set seed because I sell all the beans that I can produce. What extra beans I get off of even one plant, more than makes up for the cost of buying them and it saves me time and effort in storing them.

The other advantage I get is if there's poor germination (doesn't happen often but did happen last year) the supplier sends me new ones free of charge.

Most other plants we collect the seeds or take cuttings etc.

 

Just ordered Polestar - £5.90 for 520. A fraction over a penny per bean.