french beans

[PMW]

I have a wooden growbag holder and wondered it if its suitable to grow blue lake climbing French beans. I was thinking of lining it with old compst bags and then filling with compost to make it a bit deeper than a growbag - it would be about 20cm deep. Would this be deep enough or should I go for a deep pot?

[rustylady]

Personally, I wouldn't think 20 cm deep enough for beans.

[Florence Fennel]

Me neither. Go for something deeper.

[Two_Sheds]

Beans aren't deep-rooted, but they are very thirsty, esp. when in full leaf

[Flummery]

I think the same as Two Sheds on this - you'll be a slave to the watering can! It can be done but I think it'll be such a bind it won't be worth it for the harvest you'll get. Up to you though - good luck whatever you decide.

[Jamesy_uk]

I used grow bags for my Runners last year 3 in a bag and they did very well but as has been said they needed some serious watering sometimes twice a day.

[singleseeder]

Not sure what a growbag holder looks like really, but.............. could you get two growbags - let them flop over you arm halfway (compost now hanging in each end) - cut almost around the middle - stand it so you have the two ends now giving you mini bags of compost - put them in your holder so you have 4 bags of compost to grow in.

Hard to describe - might be easier to do (if it fits in the holder).

[Two_Sheds]

Not sure what a growbag holder looks like

it could be something flat like a gravel tray, or something more elaborate like this one:

[mrbadexample]

Well there's a new thing I never knew existed.

[PMW]

Nothing that sophisticated I am afraid:



Just a few bits of timber knocked together by the garden centre to fit a growbag I think.

Thanks for the advice anyway. I've postponed making a decision as its forecast to be bit cold tonight, but they desperately need to get out of their very small pots soon. I don't have anywhere else for them to go so its either that or a big hexagonal pot about 50cm across.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I don't grow french beans I today I potted on 3 runners into a pot smaller than yours.

Colin

[endymion]

Nothing that sophisticated I am afraid:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]24025[/ATTACH]

Just a few bits of timber knocked together by the garden centre to fit a growbag I think.

You could fit two growbags in there, on their sides like the other picture but one behind the other. That would give you the depth for the beans and also probably enough support for the canes too.

[rana]

With Blue Lake french beans you will also need to consider a decent above ground structure as they are climbing beans that can reach well in excess of 6'.

[PMW]

Thanks for all the replies. Just thought I would add a quick update.

Due to lack of alternatives I just filled to the top with compost, put up some canes and planted my 8 french bean plants. Pleased to report that the depth of the container does not seem to be an issue. They are doing fine with 2 of them now at the top of their 2m canes and we have been enjoying some very tasty beans for two weeks now. In fact its a bit of struggle fitting them in around all the courgettes (also in pots) we are consuming at the moment!

Also watering has not been a problem and they have needed little more than that falling from the skies. I did make holes in the compost bags I used to line the container, but I have been more concerned about lack of drainage given all the rain.