Wigwams?

Broad beans do not really need support at all.

Peas and sugar snaps will prefer more twiggy supports as the canes used for wigwams tend to be too thick for their tendrils to easily get hold of, at least that is what I found. You could always put some pea netting or chicken wire around the wigwam as they will like that! Make sure you know how tall your varieties will grow, or you might end up with supprts that are embarassingly too high or too short! (That's the voice of experience talking...)

Anyway, you can grow any of them in pots and semi-shade will mean they grow more slowly but you will (eventually!) get crops off them so not a complete waste of time...

a. I would suggest a container any size from bucket-sized up to those 26l tub trugs you can buy everywhere these days. But whatever will suit your space / whatever you have will probably do!!

b. This year I planted broad beans plant about 4 to 6 inches apart. I planted peas / sugarsnaps in clumps of 2 or 3 plants, each clump about 6 inches apart. The same for dwarf beans. I have no idea if this is "correct" but it seems to work for me! I think we did the same for runners but this was too close / too many plants as the supports were unable to bear the weight.

Good luck!

Thanks Demeter!

Now I just need the pesky things to start sprouting....

Glad you mentioned checking the heights, wouldn't have thought of doing that!

I guess an eight foot cane with a two foot pea would be a bit of overkill.... LOL

Red, you could grow French or Runners, one to a pot, arranged in threes. Put a 6ft cane in each pot and tie at the top to make a wigwam.

Thanks, Two sheds.

LOL, My son wants to know if that will make them 'tea-peas'.......

groan.....

I know I can't start runners off early, but what about French beans? Is there anything to gain by overwintering French beans, like you do with broad beans and peas?

Red

No. French beans are tender too. You can't start them off until April.

You just hold your horses, you.

But Two Sheds, it's sooooooooo difficult when you just want to see something small, green and sprouty....lol

Hiya crazy red! Like you I am itching to start planting!

This last summer I was adamant that I was going to make the most of the space in my garden and planted runner beans and climbing french beans in troughs against the sides of two ugly sheds. Although moderately successful, I did find they needed alot more water and feeding than other plants in they ground. Compared to the beans I had started off and given to my neighbour who had planted in the ground, they didn't quite compare!! I hope you have more success than I did!

Hey! that was uncalled for