[Caretaker]

As i will be giving up the allotment i have managed to take over a very small raised flower bed and going to grow a small wigwam of French Beans with some sweet peas to give a bit of color but was wondering if i could grow a veg in side the wigwam.
Don't ask how big the raised bed is, as it is small but but low.
Any idea what?
Reg

[DD.]

If your beans grow as they should, the inside of the wigwam will see little light and your chances of success are small.

[sunshineband]

But you might just get away with a small lettuce before the beans close ranks 

[mattwragg94]

what about fast growing crops like radish or lettuce(providing you plant them at the same time as you beans they will be ready to pick before the centre of the wigwam is shaded), your could try a squash planted in the middle, although these will creap outside of your raised bed!

[Ice]

your could try a squash planted in the middle, although these will creap outside of your raised bed!

Have you ever tried this?

[mumofstig]

squash are heavy feeders and both squash and beans drink a lot, so I think you'd have trouble with that combination 

Planting a squash a bit outside the bean frame and letting it share the climbing space does work though

[leeks r us]

Why not try a dwarf variety of french bean this will allow you to use all the space in your bed.

[Ice]

Why not try a dwarf variety of french bean this will allow you to use all the space in your bed.

I always grow "Boston" dwarf french beans and find them heavy croppers if you remember to continually pick them.

[mattwragg94]

hi ice, i havent done this myself, but im sure ive seen it on some of the programs!

[DD.]

We prefer first hand "got the t shirt" to hearsay!

[stompy]

How would you water the squash once the beans have enveloped it?
I know the rest of the plant would be ok and get plenty of light but once the beans have grown and covered the canes no rain will get to it!

[Caretaker]

always grow "Boston" dwarf french beans
I have come to a disition, dwarf beans is the way to go.
As for keeping the allotment, i think my health will have to come first, so will give it up, it will be a sad day for me but i do not wont to risk all the work done on my back for some fresh nice tasting veg.
Thank for everyones advise in the past, i will have to betent on my wifes garden but i do have a small greenhouse to play in and a large shed, i will keep in touch.
Reg

[mattwragg94]

DD it was only a suggestion and i was only trying to help!
stompy as to watering the squash, i shoulld imagine the roots will spread and get the water that the beans dont use, plus you could always poke your watering can through the wigwam and water it that way.

[TheSpartacat]

I've done the squash plant inside a wigwam and got it to work nicely... i used the bean trench method except dug out a hole instead of  long trench, just over a metre square, filled it with straw, half rotted manure, veg peelings, more straw (all of that soaks up water and acts as a reservoir) and planted as per matt's description...
I was only getting up to the plot once a week in the height of Summer but giving giving the mounds a reaaaaallly good soaking... the wet straw under the roots kept the plants going for the rest of the week...
Worth noting i had the largest pumpkins on site using this method... so it is possible to work, but you need to really soak it when watering.
I'll be doing it again this year as i think its probably a good way of conserving water too

[mattwragg94]

thanks ' thespartcat' i think you've just saved my bacon, hahaha, see i do know something :happy: