Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Hey Jude on May 11, 2011, 11:03

Title: French Climbing Beans
Post by: Hey Jude on May 11, 2011, 11:03

Morning All, what length of canes should I use for my climbing french beans? (not that I've even sown them yet.................!) Thanks as always, Jude.

Title: Re: French Climbing Beans
Post by: Azazello on May 11, 2011, 11:17

I gave mine about 7 feet last year and that was OK, but could have done with a little more, maybe 8 feet.

Title: Re: French Climbing Beans
Post by: prakash_mib on May 11, 2011, 11:18

8 feet is good...
munty's frame is better (I havent got one but itching to make one)

Title: Re: French Climbing Beans
Post by: HLS on May 11, 2011, 11:22

As long as is practical - 7 or 8 foot, probably.  Mine will be on 7 foot canes but only because I couldn't get 8 foot ones in the car comfortably.  The bottom few inches will be underground so you get less growing room than the length of the cane.  As long as you can reach (nearly) to the top to tie them up and then pick the beans, make them as long as you can.

Or build a frame for them (search for 'munty frame').

Title: Re: French Climbing Beans
Post by: Azazello on May 11, 2011, 12:07

If you don't fancy making a frame, what I do is make a "teepee" out of hazel rods with 2 or 3 plants on each rod

Title: Re: French Climbing Beans
Post by: Hey Jude on May 11, 2011, 13:47

Thanks for the advice - I'm glad I asked because for some reason I thought I'd need shorter ones, luckily I've got plenty of 7/8 ft canes in the shed. Again, many thanks. Jude.