Runner bean trial and leeks germinated

We are trying out a method of growing early Runner Beans. In short we planted Runner Bean seeds through a black mulch (biodegradable) and covered with a polythene cloche. The hope is that the cloche will protect the beans from any late frosts and give us beans much earlier in the season. Later once the beans have germinated we will push canes through the cloche to support the plants then split the cloche in June to allow the beans to grow up the canes

Today the leeks planted in frames seen above have germinated so I weeded them and covered with a bubble polythene cloche to advance growth. The leeks are in the frame shown on the right, you can see the soil surface covered with "Mypex" , this is put in place as seed is sown to prevent weed seed germination prior to the leek seedling emergence. This gives the young leeks less competition during the early development period.
We have a comparative trial with leeks sown in trays and those sown in the frames. So far the plants in trays are ahead but the time to judge is when the leeks get harvested.