Underplanting the Runner Beans with Nasturtiums last year proved to be a great success (above). In fact they underplanted themselves by self-seeding and I will let them do so again. They created a living mulch for months and a green manure when they died down with the first frosts. Nasturtiums have edible leaves and flowers and I'm told the seeds can be pickled when fresh and still green.

 And now they have another use. The bulk of the green matter has long since composted into the soil but the dried out stems remain as a straw like mulch: