How many beans?

[Florence Fennel]

When I plant runner beans, I grow one plant per pole in my wigwam and always have done. I've just read a little piece in the April GYO mag that recommends 4 plants per pole. Have I been depriving myself of more beans? Opinions please?

[zazen999]

If I had to have a pole for each plant I'd have to take out a new mortgage just for the poles.

I don't use wigwams but usually get 2-4 beans to each piece of string that they grow up. I put the string under the root and up to 4 beans around each one.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm more generous: I plant my beans 9" apart (that's 6 to a wigwam)

[Jillyreeves]

I plant beans two per pole in a wigwam.

[Brengirl]

Wow. I train them up those whirly whirly posts. Always one to a post 6" apart. Are you saying I can use the spce available for 10 times as many beans. Car boot here I come!!

[elsie-scot]

Last year I tried them on a small round oblesik, think abour 15" diameter, with four upright posts and planted 2 at each post and they grew well, just could have done with it being taller

[coreopsis]

Last year I had 2 runner beans per pole and 3-4 french beans per pole.This year I'm growing dwarf french beans so no need for wigwams,runners will be a bit more dense-thanks for your suggestion

[binley100]

I got told today to plant two per pole one each side. That's gonna be a hellova'lot of beans .

[greengas]

I planted 2 per pole last year and that worked out fine, IMO 4 seems too crowded but what do I know!

[taff]

I plant two per pole on a wigwam

[yeti]

last year i tried one bean per pole,brought young plants from garden centre,didnt do to well,this year shall grow myself,and after reading this i know how many to put per pole,i can feel a bean fest coming on!

[chriscross1966]

I normally do three per pole for shelling beans and two per rather shorter pole for climbing french beans.... don't like runners enough to bother with them, though if I cyould find a good heritage climbing red kidney bean I'd be tempted....

chrisc

[ginger ninger]

I grew 25 up each side of an arch, looked fantastic and I had lots of fresh beans, plus plenty for the freezer, which I'm still eating now.

[crazii_c]

what about broad beans, how many per cane? ive always planted one per cane, but this post has made me wonder.

[Flummery]

Two per pole here. I plant out a dozen to a 6 leg wigwam.