Runner Beans ..single sticks?

di · 22-04-2012, 11:57 AM

When I had a tiny garden I used to grow mine up the fence. Unless you're only growing one plant, I can't picture one cane being enough?

**veggiechicken** · 22-04-2012, 12:03 PM

How would you keep one stick upright? It would need bracing in some way or the wind will blow it over.

**T8Ter** · 22-04-2012, 12:16 PM

If you only have a "strip" of land have you got room for posts either end, wire/rope in between (create an "H")and then tie single canes to the wire/rope? you could also, then, put a pea/bean net across the canes to get the beans climbing.

**singleseeder** · 22-04-2012, 12:18 PM

I was thinking about how I was going to build my bean frame making the best use of the ground. What I thought I'd try was

* put two canes 7ft apart and put a third can horizontally, approx 4ft high joining the canes in the ground.
*now make a row of 8ft canes 3ft behind the first part of the frame, putting them at an angle so they rest on the horizontal cane.

This will be a single row of canes rather than a double or a wigwam, because the canes are at an angle the beans will hang down. I would then plant courgettes between the first two canes (under the beans) to make the best use of the space.

Would this work or would the water dripping from the beans (rain or watering) damage the courgette plants?

Hamsterqueen, I thought you meant a single row of canes rather than a wigwam, so would a shorter version of this make better use of space for you.

**hamsterqueen** · 22-04-2012, 12:44 PM

Thanks forall the good ideas,

I can see that growing one bean up an upright cane wouldn't be enough support, I may try the H frame thingy. Also considering a cheap archway. I have tried to annnexe a bit more lawn but my husband has vetoed that ( I've already pinched a good 5 feet!)

**lottie dolly** · 22-04-2012, 12:44 PM

SS,so you end up with a 7ft run,of sloaping 8ft canes,mmm,as the beans grow it will get very heavy,with all the weight relying on the 2 x7ft canes,it will shurley collaps,thats 1 of the reasons of using a pyramid shape as they support each other,even the when we get strong winds it can blow the frame over,depending on the winds direction,mine did last year,and they were pushed deep into the ground,so yours won't stand much of a chance,BUT am happy to be wrong

ig a fence at the back,you could screw a stronger wood to it the fix the 8ft canes to it,then the fence will take the strane,ref the courgetts under it,the should be fine,as the beans thicken up not as much will penetrate as you think,but air circulation might be,it all depents on your final planting,and only you can be the judge

says she as another shoot me down in flames

**lottie dolly** · 22-04-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by hamsterqueen View Post

Thanks forall the good ideas,

I can see that growing one bean up an upright cane wouldn't be enough support, I may try the H frame thingy. Also considering a cheap archway. I have tried to annnexe a bit more lawn but my husband has vetoed that ( I've already pinched a good 5 feet!)

MEN,1...would he notice if you extended a bit at a time when he's out

send him on holiday,
2....does he like fresh home grown/picked food,if so pester,
3...if you got a wall ext,try growing in a few containers,yes you will have to keep watering/feed ext,but you will get more beans

thus showing him you mean bissness,
4....seek a lottie if any going

good on you for sticking you guns with the beans,shows you got determination,

**Snadger** · 22-04-2012, 03:58 PM

If you aren'y too worried about straight runner beans they can be grown as ground cover or over a mound!

**zazen999** · 22-04-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by hamsterqueen View Post

Thanks forall the good ideas,

I can see that growing one bean up an upright cane wouldn't be enough support, I may try the H frame thingy. Also considering a cheap archway. I have tried to annnexe a bit more lawn but my husband has vetoed that ( I've already pinched a good 5 feet!)

It will be fine. Just don't put it vertically - put it like this / and drive it quite firmly into the soil - you can put 2 to each cane - and stick it in any spare space you have. I do this every year and it's fine. If you feel the need - tie a piece of twine at the top and wind it round and tie it at the bottom to give extra friction for the plants to cling on to.

**mothhawk** · 22-04-2012, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by singleseeder View Post

I was thinking about how I was going to build my bean frame making the best use of the ground. What I thought I'd try was

* put two canes 7ft apart and put a third can horizontally, approx 4ft high joining the canes in the ground.
*now make a row of 8ft canes 3ft behind the first part of the frame, putting them at an angle so they rest on the horizontal cane.

This will be a single row of canes rather than a double or a wigwam, because the canes are at an angle the beans will hang down. I would then plant courgettes between the first two canes (under the beans) to make the best use of the space.

Lottiedolly is right - the weight of ALL your beans will be on the bit of string at each end tying off your horizontal cane. Plus your plants will only be 4ft off the ground at the highest point which means the hanging beans will be lower than that, probably dangling all over the courgettes, which you will have to harvest on hands and knees!

Why not just make a traditional wide double row joined at the top /\ and put courgettes underneath?

I've just re-read your post - I was assuming the end of the 8ft canes would rest on the horizontal one, but maybe you intend putting the middle on the bar, which means the beans would grow to the end at maybe 6ft high, and the courgettes can be reached - hmm, might work if you use posts as the supports instead of canes, and a stout crossbar.

**taff** · 22-04-2012, 05:42 PM

I would just get my sticks, make tripods [several] and make sure that at least one of the tripod sticks is sticking in the grass. You haven't stolen any lawn, but you do have extra support

**Potstubsdustbins** · 22-04-2012, 07:45 PM

If you have a wooden fence 100mm vine eyes screwed in the posts with a cane through the eyes and then vertical canes tied to this works well for me. Against the house wall I use pipe clips to support thre vertical canes with pea netting looped through the canes and hung off the pipe clips.

Colin

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**singleseeder** · 22-04-2012, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by mothhawk View Post

I've just re-read your post - I was assuming the end of the 8ft canes would rest on the horizontal one, but maybe you intend putting the middle on the bar, which means the beans would grow to the end at maybe 6ft high, and the courgettes can be reached - hmm, might work if you use posts as the supports instead of canes, and a stout crossbar.

I wasn't too clear about where the diagonal canes would cross the horizontal was I?

I imagined the angle of the diagonal cane to be no less than 80 degrees. Just enough to let the beans hang and for the horizontal to keep everything more stable that a single vertical run, which I thought might suffer with the winds we can get up here. I did think I'd need a third vertical half way between the end posts though.

Part of my thinking also, was that a single run would avoid the tangle that you get at the top of a double run.

The courgettes at the bottom of the beans would use the wasted space and take advantage of the watering that beans are given.

Heavy posts would be better I know, but I'm sure I'd not get around to it this year.

**Newton** · 22-04-2012, 08:48 PM

I tried some courgettes under my wigwams. They were starved of sunlight and did not perform well at all.

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