ASK JOHN NEGUS

Scale insects, drying beans, early dahlias, harmless fungus

QShould you leave runner bean pods on the plant if you want to keep the beans for sowing?

Linda Corby, Welshpool, Powys

AThe advice is to leave the pods on the plant for as long as possible, preferably until they are dry and crispy, before removing the seeds.

The next best thing is to lift the whole plant and hang it upside down until the pods dry out, though if their seeds are immature it is unlikely they will germinate or grow successfully.

Harvest runner beans for sowing when the pods have dried