Bean poles and other supports

[aftermidnight]

I've used different methods over the years for growing pole beans, netting works well. Tripods made of poles cut from the bush work well. Vinyl coated nubby metal poles, not so good, on a windy day the vines let loose and slip down the pole, although if wrapped with a bit of jute they work a little better.
I'm doing a bit of experimenting this year, until I think of something better I took a plastic cup, punched 4 holes around the edge, hung 4 jute strings long enough to tie to staples in the ground stuffed a bit of paper towel in the cup and popped it on top of one of the vinyl poles.
Mostly I'm using metal conduit with a cork with a nail hammered in to hang strings from but any piece of wood whittled down would work, leave the nail quite long and you can hang any number of strings from it, they are easy to store in the winter and they don't rot.

Have a pole variety that needs a long season and you think you might have trouble getting seed from? With a bit of engineering and a conduit pole, put an umbrella over them. You need some kind of a collar to hang strings from. This is mine, the big one, slips over the conduit and held on with a screw eye. The small ones I used before I came up with the cork and nail idea, much easier to make.



When the weather turns pop an umbrella in the top of the conduit works like a charm, keeps the vines dry and they get good air circulation.


Annette

 

[so lucky]

Great idea, Annette! And bean poles with umbrellas will get the neighbors talking!
I use metal T posts, with a taller wooden stake tied along side it. (Just for the extra height) Then I run twine up the poles and between the poles and make a rectangular frame work for the vines to eventually climb on. There is room underneath all that to plant some squash or something. DH says he wants to plant gourds, but no action on that idea yet.

 

[baymule]

Annette that is so cool. Love the umbrella for the beans.

 

[PhilaGardener]

I think it's a cover-up





Great idea, honestly!

 

[aftermidnight]

If there's a will there's always a way, sometimes you just have to think outside the box.
You should see what I've done using crazy glue.
Annette

 

[majorcatfish]

everyone has their own way of growing pole beans.... the way i look at it is easy of picking<a nice straight row>

\
yes i do like the <sturdy stake> with the bumps on them.
but to combat the storm winds.
first off at each end pound in a 5' u post and then pound in 7'.. 1/2" conduit and tie them together you can see how nicely they fit

every 6-7' add another piece of conduit and in the middle of the run pound in more u-post tied to the conduit. then add sturdy stakes every 8-10" between them

yep that's hemp twine, thats the back bone of this very simple trellis system..
simple to put up and simple to tear down....

 

[Smart Red]

Like, major!

 

[aftermidnight]

Ahhhh @majorcatfish if only had the room, love your setup.

Annette

 

[Beekissed]

We usually just use the corn for trellising. This year I sent a few up the cattle panels along with the cukes, but the majority of the runner beans will be in the corn.

 

[baymule]

Looks good Major!