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Runner Beans.

cowslip2cowslip2 Posts: 137
in Fruit & veg

It has long been a mystery to me why the majority of gardeners secure the canes at the top. Far better to cross them half way down, as this is so much stronger, and the beans grow more free.

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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,528

    My OH asked me tonight why I crossed the canes so low. That way all the beans hang on the outside and you can see them easier.

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    If you cross them too low they may snap with the weight of beans hanging on the outside, and they will be vulnerable to strong wind.  The strongest construction is if they cross nearer the top with a wide-ish base.

  • PatsyDPatsyD Posts: 35

    I'm always amazed by the huge rows most people seem to grow (on my allotment site at least) Maybe some have large families who all love beans, but most seem unable to keep up with production and the plants are soon left with toughening beans on them. 

  • figratfigrat Posts: 1,619

    Maybe that's so they can save the seed and sow a huge amount the next year.

    One tip I find useful is if you're making a wigwam structure for beans, leave one cane out so access to beans growing inside the wigwam is much easier.

  • PatsyDPatsyD Posts: 35

    Figrat, you could be right!

     

    Verdun, I agree a healthy row of beans does look good. Maybe some people just like to see a huge row of them? No reason why they shouldn't grow them just for that, I grow plenty of plants just to look at. ( I'd still call a 20' row huge!)

  • Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657
    like Verdun my bean frame is permanent the same idea, 7 foot wooden poles from the farm suppliers at ?? 1.50 with chicken wire across and also the pea frame ,2 x 4 foot poles from the farmers supply shop at ?? 1 each and chicken wire across , and they never get rotated like the rest of the crops on the allotment, they never fall down never get moved and so cheap and easy some of us use bean mesh or old fishing boat nets when we can get them,these are good for fruit cages as well ,2nd hand very cheap

    good luck

    Alan4711
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,528

    I always grow lots of beans, apart from last year when they didn't like the weather. When we get loads I always find that there are plenty of people who can't be bothered to grow veg who are quite willing to take them off my hands.

  • Andrew KennethAndrew Kenneth Posts: 265

    This is what I constructed a while back for beans. It gets quite windy where I am. The wire was just lying around the plot for many years.

    Nowt like recycling! say I

    image

     

    better than recyclin!

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