[kiwinicks]

Hi all,

Im looking at growing runner beans for the first time this year and i am not sure what is the best shapped frame to use.

I have got some 8" bamboo canes but im not sure if i should have them in a X shape or have them tied together at the top.

Thanks in advance.
Nick

[ThePragmatist]

One option that I think a lot of people have had success with is the Munty frame. Discussion here:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=50801.0

I am trying it this year with Runners, French Beans, and Champion of England climbing peas.

It makes it easier to harvest the beans as they dangle down from the sloping frame, and you can plant a second crop under it.

It avoids the problem you get if you tie the tops together, which is that the foliage and beans get all tangled up. The X frame is another way of avoiding that problem.

Cheers!

[JayG]

An "X" shape makes it far easier to access the beans for picking and avoids the congestion you inevitably get at the top of an inverted "V."

It isn't such a good idea if your canes are old and brittle because being partly unsupported they can snap under the weight.

[ThePragmatist]

Also! Counter-intuitively (for me anyway when I first saw a picture of the frame), the tall side of the munty is at the southern side. The beans grow towards the light, so if you have the short side at the south, the beans will want to grow away from the frame.

Having the short side at the north is also what lets you grow something else under the frame, and reduces the shading for anything you grow to the north of the frame.

[tribs]

That's a great idea. Will try that structure. Will jute string sub for hop string?

[savbo]

I use an X frame, with 2/3 above the cross...the canes rest on a beam about 2' above the ground...

re jute string - I think it would rot before the end of the year - I found this on my pea patch last year. So it's back to polypropylene

sav

[Aidy]

This what i use and have done for many a year, as mentioned by JG this one will support your canes at the top, also the area required to grow is a small

[Totty]

I use a similar support to aidy. Run the row from south to north, meaning both sides of every plant gets equal light, the middle of the rows gets good light and air movement, all the beans hang out meaning you can just walk up and down the row to pick, plus it looks much neater than many other ways. I use hazel stick cos they are strong and beans like climbing them!

Totty