Q.Should I Remove My Spent Snap Bean From My Garden Before Winter, Could I Leave Them In The Ground All Winter And Till Them In Next
spring. I had no disease or insect problems.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It is usually advised to remove plant residue in the fall, because of overwintering disease and insects, and replace it with mulch, such as straw, shredded leaves, grass clippings, or wood chips. They will begin decomposing during the winter and can be tilled under in the spring. You also can plant a cover crop such as winter rye or alfalfa to till under in spring. Also, leaving it may produce volunteers, which if the plant was a hybrid, won't come true from seed.
If you feel comfortable that no disease organisms or insect larva are present, you can lightly cultivate the plants to break them into smaller pieces. Avoid tilling which will disturb the good soil fungi.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/winter-vegetable-garden-tasks.htm
https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/vegetables/vegetable-garden-cleanup.html
