Am I too late to sort out a bean trench or can I do it when I plant this weekend?
Before you go off the page.
Not necessarily. I guess it depends on how workable your soil is. If its light you can just tread it down carefully after digging and plant straight into it, as long as what you're putting in the trench doesn't need time to compost. Give it a good water after planting.
What is the alternative to a trench?
What are you putting in the trench, what is the soil like anyway and what preparation has it had? Are you planting beans or do you have plants growing?
Thanks nostoc - from your reply I think I might be too late. I don't have already composted material so it would be raw stuff from the compost bin and I'd be direct sowing, not planting established plants. The soil is light so I guess I'll just direct sow and see how they go.
Cheers anyway