Supports for French beans

[Cosmo and Dibs]

What kind of support do I need to provide for French beans (climbers)?

Do I need to build some kind of bamboo frame, or can I just stick canes in the ground and allow the beans to climb up it? If it's the latter, I'm worried that the weight of the plant will be too much for the cane.

If I need a frame, how do I build one?

The seed packet tells me that they will grow to around 5ft.

[zazen999]

Beans will be fine with a cane, I grew 4 to each one last year and they were fine.


How many are you planning to grow?

[Alison]

I always grow mine up a wigwam and the varieties I'm growing (Blahilde, Blue Lake and Cherokee Trail of Tears) grow to over 6' before I nip out the growing tip. I really do love French beans.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Beans will be fine with a cane, I grew 4 to each one last year and they were fine.


How many are you planning to grow?

I'm not sure how many to plant- I have 140 Blue Lake seeds.

I was thinking maybe 5 plants up a circular wigwam......? Is that too many/too few?

[Two_Sheds]

Check your spacing.
My packet says plant them 9-12" apart.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Check your spacing.
My packet says plant them 9-12" apart.

Mine says similar, but I've read conflicting spacings online. Some say as little as 4"......

I think I'll play it safe and go for the instructions on the packet.

[Alison]

Check your spacing.
My packet says plant them 9-12" apart.

I grow two plants up each cane in the wigwam and the canes are about 10" (max, probably some closer) apart at the base and almost always get a great crop.