[Aunt Sally]

This old biddy puts the strings on her "Munty Frame" about 6-8 inches apart and to be honest it is a little too close as the thick mat of leaves tends to catch up a few of the beans ans stop them dangling.  It's not a problem though as they are easy just to see from the top and just push through,

In BM times ("Before Munty") when we used an "A" frame the spacing was wider to give access for picking to the beans on the inside of the frame.

[Oliver]

... OBND tells me that my strings are too close together, as a result the beans wont "fall" down across the roof but rather get tangled up in the string and the bean

I am afraid I would agree with them, he or she - I grow mine beans 10" apart, BUT - the only answer is wait and see. You've done it now. If its not ok, you won't do it again!  :blink: But keep us posted so we know to make them closer next year if necessary
Oliver

PS Everything is growing like mad now - gentle rain last night again -  luverly. Just watch those slugs and snail on dem beans - they love tender juicy shoots and this rain is just the sort of weather they like.  However, if they do kill a bean, is not too late to put another seed in. In fact, the timing is ideal now because the soil is nice and warm. O :happy:

[Paul Plots]

Now you go and tell me Aunty!!   

I've been and gone and stuck my (almost) upright strings at 6" intervals as that is how close the bean plants are... 

Oh well.... I used the same spacings as I had on BM version (conventional 'A' frame).

I have yet to put the "over-head" strings in place so maybe I ought to let the plants converge / share strings once they are up and on their way over??  :blink: 

Complicated all this planning and thinking!!  :blink:

It certainly seemed to take me ages to fiddle and knot and plant.... a longer performance than the old 'A' frame that had been in the same place for about 15 years.

We'll see..... learning from personal experience is the best way I guess....even if a fair few of those personal experiences are mistakes 

[Lardman]

.... puts the strings on her "Munty Frame" about 6-8 inches apart and to be honest it is a little too close as the thick mat of leaves tends to catch up a few of the beans ans stop them dangling. 

Thats what was worrying me.

It's not a problem though as they are easy just to see from the top and just push through

mmm 8ft high frame somehow I don't think thats going to work.  I've removed 1/2 the roof canes so they're now 10"ish apart leaving the verticals at 5"

Might use the canes for some French beans in a mini Munty if they ever germinate. 

[Aunt Sally]

They'll be fine however you grow them !

The most important thing is the soil preparation with lots of rich humus and copious watering throughout the growing season.

[Aunt Sally]

The idea with the munty frame is that you don't need to have it too high.  the back supports about 2' 6" to 3' high and the front supports about 6' high

[mumofstig]

from my experience it doesn't seem to matter if they are 6in or 10in apart .....they still all end up in a huge tangle at the top

[Aunt Sally]

Nip them out when they reach the top.

[mumofstig]

nipping out will increase the number of new shoots from lower down, which grow up to flower and increase yield (and increase the tangle at the top)

[Aunt Sally]

there's always one smart @rse 

[Motivator]

I would think nipping them out would help a fair bit. I could be wrong.

[Kristen]

"before finding this site i had already planted my beans"

Have you already put a "traditional" A-frame of canes in?

If so perhaps you could lower the cross over point of the canes to make an X with a low crossing point, more of a:

|\       /|
 |\     /|
  |\   /|
   |\ /|
     x
    / \

so that beans will dangle outside the frame, rather than inside as-with the traditional A-frame

[Paul Plots]

"before finding this site i had already planted my beans"

Have you already put a "traditional" A-frame of canes in?

If so perhaps you could lower the cross over point of the canes to make an X with a low crossing point, more of a:

\       /
 \     /
  \   /
   \ /
    x
   / \

so that beans will dangle outside the frame, rather than inside as-with the traditional A-frame

Several people seem to use this set-up but I still wonder how you get to see or reach the beans on the inside of the V.......or will they all oblige by hanging out? 

Either way they will grow with a bit of luck!! (and some bees....) 

[Kristen]

"will they all oblige by hanging out?"

That's basically it.  Same as they hang-in on an A-frame.  Some can get stuck the wrong side, but in general not.

(I've modified my original diagram, so it now has beans!!)

[Oliver]

...... 't beans will dangle outside the frame, rather than inside as-with the traditional A-frame

brilliant drawing Kirsten! This is what I always do (or an A frame if HE helps ...) Have been doing this for xxx years! so it works - a bean's gotta do what a bean's gotta do, so don't worry about it. East is fine too - you will soon find what is best. (We plant everything North to South - OBND plants E to W, so only one face gets the South sun - but his works too :blink:)
Oliver