Silly Question

[Gela]

I have only recently returned to from living abroad for 30 years, and cannot find the bean poles I am used to - plastic covered metal. I have had to buy bamboo ones. The ones I am used to have a pointed end for sticking in the ground and a flat end for ponking with a mallet. The bamboo ones have a thick end and a thin end . The silly question is: which end goes into the soil??

[Mike and Louise]

Well we always put the strongest end (the thickest end) into the ground.

Of course if the bamboo cane is of equal thickness (it does happen) then it don't matter which end you push into the ground.

[SarzWix]

The poles you are talking about, they used to sell something similar in the gardening section of Focus stores, I don't know if they still do. They're green and have notches so that you can put strings between them and they don't slip down. Might be worth a look if you have one nearby. They were near the netting etc in our local store before they closed it.

[RedThorn]

With bamboo or hazel sticks, I usually put the thicker end in the ground. The local livestock shop (sells feed and other bits and bobs) by me sell poles simular to the ones you described - good luck in your search

[GrubbyGirl]

I have only recently returned to from living abroad for 30 years, and cannot find the bean poles I am used to - plastic covered metal.

They sell them in Homebase

[Norm]

Another thing you may want to try is binding the bottom 12" of the cane with electrical insulating tape. (Wilkos do 3 rolls dirt cheap) It's fiddly, but the end doesn't rot as fast and I'm still using canes I strapped up 5 years ago.

[Sanjo]

I have only recently returned to from living abroad for 30 years, and cannot find the bean poles I am used to - plastic covered metal. I have had to buy bamboo ones. The ones I am used to have a pointed end for sticking in the ground and a flat end for ponking with a mallet. The bamboo ones have a thick end and a thin end . The silly question is: which end goes into the soil??

B & Q also sell (sold) them. I used them last year. They do quite long ones, around 7' or 8'. However, I have been trying to get them again this year but they only had the shorter ones with the knobbly bits on. I'm glad you asked this because now I can toddle off to Homebase!!

[Demeter]

I'm sure I got some of the nobbly green ones in Wyevale last year. Maybe it was Blooms. Or B&Q...
Not helpful is it?

[Gela]

I tried posting this yesterday but it seems to have vanished into thin air, soooo.....Thanks to you all - Unfortunately we have no Wyeville, Focus or Homebase on the Island but we do have a B & Q. I shall go there and see if they sell them, although this year it is a little late as I have got bamboo ones now. However, many thanks Norm, I shall get the insulating tape out and bind the bases and stick the thick end into the ground, hoping that the thinner ends will be strong enough to tie up into a wigwam. Thanks everyone again.

[Irie Jan]

Another thing you may want to try is binding the bottom 12" of the cane with electrical insulating tape. (Wilkos do 3 rolls dirt cheap) It's fiddly, but the end doesn't rot as fast and I'm still using canes I strapped up 5 years ago.

Thanks Norm I just bought a load of bamboo canes for my tom's. Have yet to get my bean canes. This is a tip I will remember!