Beans and Peas

[brumbird]

Hey hey green fingered folk

I have had a look at the space i have and it 4 fence panels (7m-ish?) by about 50-80 cm (it gets woder at the bottom but this back part gets a bit of shade from an apple tree)

I want to grow beans and peas and my question is: can i just use pea netting attached to the fence for runner beans, french beans and peas? I have an amazing tree that we took down but saved, it was an upright apple (but it was in a really weird position and fruit didnt grow well last year) and its kinda christmas tree shaped. I was going to grow something up it - is one of these a heavier plant that would require more support than just netting?

Thanks for reading

[Jungle Jane]

Do you have a photo of the apple tree? I think you could train runner beans around it,if you guide the vines. Runner beans are heavier than peas. Peas will scramble up a net but beans like to twist around poles. Edit to add - I've never tried beans on netting.

[brumbird]

I can get a pic tomorrow. Its at the bottom of the garden with all the other junk ive kept to repurpose and which makes my dad roll his eyes

[Potstubsdustbins]

Runners grow well up netting provided the net is well supported. The pic shows 6 plants, the net is supported by 3 canes fixed to the wall.

Do remember that runners will grow to 6ft plus in height so you will have to make an allowance for this.

[brumbird]

Thanks for that PTD, its good to know i can use the netting on all.of them if necessary. I thought you had to pinch out the tip when beans got to the top of your support?

[brumbird]

This is the tree that ive saved. Got to make sure its sunk safely though

[Jungle Jane]

Ive only ever used bamboo poles for runner beans. Using tree will look lovely & natural,like it's part of the vine. If I was using the piece of tree I think I'd remove some of the lower branches,maybe more,the bean vine might (when it gets to the branch) start vining round the branch & then it will run out of space at the end of the branch & have to be nipped out & stopped (branches are good for dwarf peas). You could plant about 3 beans around it,but would the weight make it topple over so I don't know maybe 2? Mine get top heavy where I let them grow a bit longer than the support before I stop them (to get more beans,even though you get hundreds anyway,I might stop doing that) but theyre teepee shaped & the angles help hold the weight. When they start growing the vines will flap around a bit not knowing that the tree is for them,I sometimes use string on my bamboo poles to keep the vine snug to the support if they do this.

[brumbird]

Yes i am thinking of chopping the lower bits off so i can get it nice and deep in the ground. Might put the french climbing beans up it as they dont seem to be quite as vigourous as runners? Been digging in the sun today

[Jungle Jane]

It looks really good so far.

[brumbird]

Thanks Junglejane i am so pleased with how its coming on. Just got my fingers crossed that the cheapo seeds i bought will germinate. I will put some stuff straight in i think as its so much simpler but the seed trays in the conservatory were fun to do with the kids.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I would use the tree for Frenchies, if you want runners as well you could easily secure some netting to the top of a fence panel, pull it away at the bottom and peg it into the ground.

[brumbird]

Sounds like a great idea - so would you plant on the inside of the netting?