Bean experts...

[MontyJ]

I have always grown Blue Lake bush beans in the garden. They produce very well and are great for freezing and canning. However, as I get older, I dread all the stooping and bending at harvest time. This year I would like to go with pole beans, but I have a question. I would normally plant four 50 foot rows of bush beans. How many pole beans would I need to equal the same production?

Marshall? Anyone?

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's a Marshall question. I would not dare touch it.

I grow both Blue Lake pole and bush. They taste and smell different. The pole have more flavor. My wife really likes the pole version better. I think you'll like them fine, just expect them to be different.

 

[897tgigvib]

http://www.heirlooms.org/greasy-cut-shorts.html

Might want to get some greasy cutshorts going! These are a different idea than blue lakes. With cutshorts ya get more bean in the pod.

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http://www.abeancollectorswindow.com/beanpage2.html

I'll send Russ an email. It's time we get the bean swaps going! Russ has some of the most beautiful and special varieties.

 

[digitS']

... I would not dare touch it. . .

. . . with a 10 foot pole?

I could probably find what cooperative extension says about pole vs bush yield, MontJ. It would be more help if there was personal experience rather than some 100 year-old, academic info shared between one ivy-covered college of ag and another, ad infinitum.

I just thought I'd share the risks associated with setting up bean teepees .

An 8' pole is probably standard and none too long. Now, you've got to reach the top and drive it into the ground . I like to use a 5# sledge. It is a little lighter than an 8# hammer and better represents my capabilities . . .

Now, how do I get up there? I have used my wheelbarrow. None too stable at ground level, there I am standing in a wheelbarrow, swinging a 5# hammer at the end of a 1" by " board! Lately, I've used a milk crate that was helpfully stolen from behind a store by somebody and then given to me :/. (Used to be my neighbor.) The end of that board is still above my head.

So you see, pole beans come with risks too!

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

Monty will probably stand on his barbecue and use the back end of one of his cooking implements to pound the steaks in!

and...and... and then make some barbecue beans!!!

 

[thistlebloom]

You guys!

 

[MontyJ]

Actually, I would probably use...oh, I don't know...a ladder? No, what I will do is take three poles, screw them together at the top, then unfold them into a teepee. Push each leg into the ground and I'm done. It looks like I'll be planting a single teepee, maybe two and going with bush as a main crop. Then I'll be able to better judge production.

 

[so lucky]

Monty, I had my tee-pees pounded into the ground last year and the wind caught them once they were vine covered, and knocked them over, right out of the ground. I even had them tied to the fence. Agreed, they weren't pounded into the ground far enough. I don't know what "far enough" is. What ever you think it is, then a bit farther. A fully leafed-out bean tee-pee is quite a wind-catcher, I guess.
Also, make sure you get your Blue Lake Pole beans from a reputable source. I bought from Livingston seeds last year, and about half the pack turned out to be something other than Blue Lake. Lumpy, stringy, tough. I would have thought Livingston would be reputable.

 

[Smart Red]

My bean towers fell over last year as well. Didn't have that problem in 2011. Dearest Hubby put a 1 x 2 across, joining all three towers and the problem was solved.

I'm going out to play with the chickens. I'll take a photo of the arrangement and try my hand at posting my first picture here ( unless avitars count ).

 

[897tgigvib]

row

Directions to make a bean teepee in TORNADEE COUNTREE:

Go to hardware store, purchase 3 bags of concrete ready mix with the sand and gravel already mixed in it.

Also purchase 3 4X4's, 12 foot long.

Also purchase 3 or 4 round headed thru bolts, nuts and washers...(Neanderthal hippys always forget what they are called until we see the name on the shelf). Those kind with the semi round top and the little square holding thingamajig just under it... :happy_flower

Make sure you have a drill. Knapped flint drills are real slow. Modern human electric or battery ones with the right sized bit are SOOO much easier! :weight

Dig holes for those 4x4's equidistant 3 feet down or 36 inches, whichever makes you tired first. They should make a triangle shape because you'll make 3 of those holes.

Drink pot of strong coffee, catch breath. Get on TEG while catching breath. Do some posts.

Pour some concrete in hole, up about a foot. Barely add water. Plop 1 4x4 in it so it sets down a few inches deep in the concrete down there, and the top leans to the middle. Dump rest of concrete in from that bag while adding water.

Oh boy! Stand back and admire the beautiful mess, and wonder why they make concrete so heavy...

Repeat that process for the nest 2 hole, taking note to ensure the tops of those 4x4's are touching each other some kind of way. No need to worry about neatness. Most beans don't care, well, there may be some fancy french gourmet beans worried about that. If that's what you are growing, neatly hand carve a multi legged cabriole leg set out of them and use dovetail joinery, topic for another discussion...

The next day or so start drilling holes at the top, all the way through 2 of them, run the bolt through, use the washer and tighten the nut down. Repeat the process in such a way that all 3 4x4's have at least one bolt in them. If you bought extras, add a few more, well, unless you are using the neanderthal hand knapped flint drill.

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When the tornado comes along observe all safety precautions. After the tornado is done, the last thing you will be concerned with are your beans. Nobody has ever checked to see if this works. So far so good.

But for normal high winds, this will hold! Some of your bean pods may be found the next county over however. The teepee will remain however.