Wigwams or Poles

[Silverfox]

I just wondered what everyone else grows their runners, French and peas against. I would like to make some for my allotment next year and I wasn't sure if I should get some wigwams or make a fence like frame and have string / wire type stuff running up the frame. I will have 2 resting against each other at the top like a swing shape to keep it supported.
I am trying to make this as economical as possible and thought 4 large long bits of wood with string would be a lot cheaper than making loads of wigwams.

[Earthbabe]

Hi Silverfox

I used wigwams this year. They look quite attractive and I could put one up by myself very easily. However I will probably go for the four poles of some description with netting as I am looking at doing the trench thing and obviously the poles lend themselves to this.

I also think I may be able to grow more on two frames like that than 3-4 or possibly even five wigwams. We do like our beans and I can never seem to have enough to freeze.

I think it is a matter of choice, convenience, size of crop wanted etc. Strictly with a wigwam you should only have one plant per pole. I must admit to cheating and putting two, but I ran out of poles and object to constantly shelling out for stuff.

In other words, your choice really. Might be interesting to see what other grapes think. We could take a straw poll type thing to gauge preference.

[Snadger]

I've used an old volleyball net and posts complete with guy ropes which was being thrown out. Just need to tighten the guy ropes now and again.
Tried to set up a game of volleyball with my allotment neighbour but he was having none of it!

[sewer rat]

I used wigwams in my garden this year but as I'm going "large" next year, will be building frames from scaffolding poles and using pea & bean netting

[nick the grief]

They ony problem with netting is getting the Haulms off at the end of the year. Otherwise it means you've got to get it out of the compost or just chuck the lot.

A lot of the Commercial PYO folks round here use wigwams. & they are more stable I would have thought than the normal rows.

I use wigwams but I knew someone who was in a wheelchair & he used to grow them up a tunnel either sisde of a path so they all hung down on the inside & he just picked them as he went down.

[25cowlane]

If you use chicken wire instead of netting, end of season a few minutes with a blow torch sorts out the left overs!

[Alice]

I grow my beans on a wigwam because that's what suits me at the moment. In the future I might construct a frame in a different location. A few years ago I turned up at my in laws (in their 80's) to find them in a heated argument in the garden about how to grow the beans. They finally conceded you grow your beans your way and I'll grow mine my way (worse than weans) and we'll see who's got the best beans. I don't think there was any difference so it's just what suits you and your location.

[SueA]

I prefer wigwams but that's just because I grow my beans in large tubs. I'm sure I read somewhere recently though that wigwams are more stable than traditional rows but I suppose it depends on your set up & how many beans you are growing. A lot of people use 'inverted ' wigwams or canes (narrow at the bottom /wide at the top) as well so that the beans apparently hang on the outside & are easier to pick.