Growing Climbing Beans/Peas

[Snadger]

All these clever schemes have given me the idea of building a rectangular frame with a series of V-shaped lengths of twine down the middle - sort of a reverse of the "tent" frame usually used for rows of beans. I think it would be a bit more stable than canes leaning outwards!

Like this (cross-section):

  _ _ _ _ _ _
  |\        /|
  | \      / |
  |  \    /  |
  |   \  /   |
..|..o.\/.o..|..

The verticals and horizontals are canes, the diagonals are string, and the little circles are where you sow/plant the beans - as with the other schemes, the beans should then hang down the outside...

I'll take some photos as I do it, then if it works, I'll put it on my website as another project

I made a similar frame to gow raspberry canes up, alternating one one way then the next.......worked a treat!

[Sue]

My long term plan is to put a row of arches over my top allotment path to have a bean and climbing pea tunnel so the pods will all hang down inside and I'll get some shade from the sun (ever hopeful) this summer.
No quite there yet but got half way so can make a start this year and go the whole hog next year.
Sue

[Rocketron]

I need some help here. I naively thought climbing beans would have tendrils (like peas) and planned to grow them up netting.
All this talk about them curling around poles or twine !
Will they curl around netting in the same way or should I have a re-think ?

[jacob marley]

Climbing will grow up almost any thing i grow beans up canes and climbing peas up twine (baler)and you have no need to worry they will climb up netting no problem....jacob

[Droppey]

Am I right in thinking that Dwarf Beans do not grow up anything? That they're more of a bushy plant? Or have I misread my book?

[jacob marley]

The clue is in the name....jacob

[Droppey]

derrrrrrrrr :P

[chuffa]

i saw an old mag with the canes tied together into a big cross this also helped with harvesting.

[Snadger]

i saw an old mag with the canes tied together into a big cross this also helped with harvesting.

Were they growing at the Vicarage chuffa?

[Flobalob]

The next door neighbour was having a clear-up in her garden jungle. An old rusty greenhouse frame was found amongst the trees. Its now in my garden as a support for my bean sticks.
Rather rust'y'ic don't you think ?
tonys+pics+april+09+(1)+021.jpg (image)

[zazen999]

I like it....

[Beanie]

There's an 'old boy' at my lottie site that uses the cross method - claims it grows straighter pods. Plus it's easier to spot them when you're picking!

I tried a runner bean arch last year, spanning the path between two of my raised beds - it was a good idea but alas a poorly executed one, as there wasn't really the space inside the arch for a full-grown human to stand up in. Had to keep sending the kids in - WHEN I could persuade them down there. Was planning another arch this year (wider, on another part of the plot) but having seen Zazen999's suggestion above, I think I might give that a go instead - it looks like an extremely clever idea!

[rana]

The next door neighbour was having a clear-up in her garden jungle. An old rusty greenhouse frame was found amongst the trees. Its now in my garden as a support for my bean sticks.
Rather rust'y'ic don't you think ?
tonys+pics+april+09+(1)+021.jpg (image)

Very rustyic Flobalob but surely the beans should be planted in the ground, not in pots 6' up in the air

[MrsC]

Have to make one of those frames now for the lottie, what a good idea!

[susieq100]

I've put my bean sticks in as big X's just because I'm not tall enough to tie them up any other way!!