Overwintered runner bans

As I was claering the space from last year's runner beans, I found that the roots had survived the winter and are putting up new shoots. 

 As you can see, not very spectacular, but it's there! I'm reluctant to dig it up, and have decided to leave it, plant this year's as planned, and see what happens, but I was wondering if anyone else has experience of this? I'm on the southern edge of Dartmoor if that's of any interest. I've already mentioned this on the 'May in your garden thread', apologies for reposting but thought I might get a wider audience if I posted as a new topic.

I always leave my runner bean roots in the ground but I have never experienced this. I always cut them off well below soil level. I wouldn't dig it up either just to see what happens, you never know you may get the most fantastic beans you have ever had.

I overwintered some in my shed, in the same way I did my dahlia tubers.   Was clearing the shed today and found then having completely forgotten about them.   They have completely white shoots, but shoots nonetheless.

I read last year thy could be saved but the crop wasn't great.  So, I shall plant them once they've greened up and compare to my properly grown ones.   

Figrat, are you going to let them carry on?

Hi Figrat,

I had this happen just once, a few years ago.  About 5 or 6 runner roots survived the winter and came up again the next year.  They are perennial in their native habitat, but the cold, wet and pests usually get to them in our climate.  It'll be interesting to see how it does compared to ones sown this year!

Please!

Yes please, really want to hear how the beans get on.

In my trough in which I grew pumpkins last year, a very pretty deep pink petunia arrived, presumably from old compost.  I left it be, it has survived the winter, and is now coming into flower again.  I suspect that many of our annual plants could survive if we had the weather for  it, or kept them under cover - but usually we don't do this, nor have the room to do so.  Lovely when it happens naturally. 

One of their nicknames in the US is "Seven Year Beans". They are perennial and should crop well again. They were also grown there more for their flowers than their beans!

I intend to leave plenty of pods to fully mature as the beans are very useful in stews etc. long after you get bored with the pods. I simply freeze the beans while they are still plump (similar to harvesting broad beans) and make sure they are cooked thoroughly before eating.

They seem do be doing extremely well! Found another just to the left which has just poked up its first shoot.