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Simple trellis for green beans | (Read 9458 times) |
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Charley Hoke
Posts: 66
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June 29, 2008, 06:53:03 PM |
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I like growing green beans almost as much as I like eating them. We grow both pole beans and bush beans. I prefer the pole beans because if properly trellised take up less room, but have always detested the complicated trellis systems that I have used in the past. Last year I discovered a simpler way.
First, I keep my rows around 10 feet long and 2 feet apart; I put a wood steak at the ends of the rows sticking about 6 feet out of the ground. Then I tie a stick at the top of each steak to connect them. Then I tie an old piece of bailing twine to the cross stick and let it dangle down to the bean plant. I repeat this for each plant.
The beans will climb the twine and because it dangles, it makes it easier to harvest reaching between the plants as they sway freely. This concept makes it easier in the fall too. When the plant dies and if I have used twine made from jute or other natural fiber, I simply cut the twine loose from the cross stick, pull the bean plant from the ground and toss the whole thing in the compost pile.
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Jeremy Bunag
Administrator
Posts: 217
Workin' Central IL converted farmland
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June 30, 2008, 02:36:35 PM |
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Great setup! I like how "minimal" it is, especially that the twine is just dangling (rather than building a whole frame and affixing it at the bottom).
Very neat.
-Jeremy
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Charley Hoke
Posts: 66
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June 30, 2008, 07:31:20 PM |
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I am also experimenting with cucumbers, they require a bit more training as they are just as happy spreading out over the ground. Once they grab the twine they will gladly climb as well.
The beans on the other hand will reach for the string as long as it is close, they will find it.
I also like that I can easily reach trough to the next row because it is easy to push the string aside.
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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July 03, 2008, 05:28:40 PM |
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I was thinking about using baling twine until you mentioned composting all of it. That makes the baling twine idea not so good.
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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July 10, 2008, 02:02:50 PM |
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Would jute work as a baling twine?
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Charley Hoke
Posts: 66
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July 10, 2008, 04:38:49 PM |
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I don't see why jute would not work as bailing twine, it is a very strong fiber.
I'm not sure if the twine I have gotten in the past was jute or not, but it was a natural fiber, at least it looked like it.
For the last couple of years the twine I have been getting is an orange plastic type.
This is an interesting article I found on jute
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-jute.htm
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Charley Hoke
Posts: 66
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July 20, 2008, 12:09:06 PM |
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Or you could tie a string across the bottom and tie the dangle strings to that.
I get a lot of wind here too, I actually cut the strings a foot or so longer than I need and lay it directly on the plant. it's amazing how quickly the plants grab hold and once they do wind is not an issue. I keep check on them and help them out till they get going, once they do I just let them go.
Something has been killing my cucumbers so I adopted this method with them and it seems to have helped. The cukes need more training and help but it seems to be working out well.
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Valorie
Posts: 16
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March 25, 2009, 04:30:17 PM |
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I am SO trying it this summer! Thanks for the great photos, too.
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stalk_of_fennel
Posts: 20
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July 19, 2010, 10:18:03 AM |
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ditto ... just left of center is hyacinth bean vine growing up bailing twine. I actually tied a piece of twine along the bottom and tied the hanging twine to it... probably not necessary. This is the west facing wall of my humble abode... Central Texas. This vine is so great here. Second year growing it and never any bug problems. Provides a lot of shade on the west facing wall during the hottest part of the day. It also grows faster then lightning and doesnt wither even under the brutal Texas sun. The pods are edible after leeching them.. didnt try them last year but will this year.
For the curious.. the vine just right of center is the native morning glory around here. It's growing up a bamboo teepee that's over a 300 gallon pond. Its part of the aquaponics system you see in the bottom right part of the picture. The morning glory shades the pond during the hottest part of the day. I assume bugs fall into the pond from the vines as well. Basil is growing like crazy in the hydro beds bottom right. Green beans are struggling... producing a lot of beans but they dont get very big. I have some watermelons in the 'ponics as well but theyre not doing so hot either. Producing a lot of flowers, setting melons and then aborting.
Middle right of center is lemon grass. Bottom left is sweet potatoes... little grasshoppers are starting to chop 'em ... grrrr.
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Brenda Groth
Administrator
Posts: 1860
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July 20, 2010, 09:57:15 AM |
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for many years now i have grown BUSH beans cause that was what i had seed of available..and you know what..they are a real bugger to pick..pole beans are so much easier ..nice photo
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stalk_of_fennel
Posts: 20
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July 20, 2010, 11:11:04 AM |
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for some reason i like the bush beans better when it comes to eating
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Dianne Keast
Posts: 466
Less Stress ~~ More Life
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July 23, 2010, 05:16:57 AM |
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We had an old bed headboard that was sitting behind the shed.
We turned it on its side & buried the end, it worked great for our beans & round ziccini.
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Plankl
Posts: 114
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July 24, 2010, 03:13:40 AM |
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I grow beans right on edge below tree crown. I tie strings on branches on edge of crown, just let them dangle and beans have no problem climbing them. String is a bit longer (it touches the ground and still some extra) so there is needed flexibility when it's windy.
Also, here we are growing 9-12 bean seeds up one pole or string. So 9-12 seeds in one hole.
Making fiber strings is a great winter job. Nettles, willow, ...
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 articles by paul wheaton: [diatomaceous earth] [raising chickens] [lawn care] [Sepp Holzer] [cast iron] [flea control]
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Green bean trellis.jpg
