[moreteavicar]

I have recently revamped part of the garden, so currently a blank canvas.
My plan is to build some Munty type bean frames that will be a permanent fixture.
Garden runs N/S.
My question is do you have any advice if I should build one long one N/S or several short ones E/W?
I luv runner beans! Not had any decent ones since I was a child.

[moreteavicar]

Added some pictures to give an idea of the layout - I need to incorporate a path through the patch.
One long frame N/S right against the tunnel or a path separating them?
Several short rows E/W , again against tunnel or with path separating.
Path down middle of plot?
Frames other side against fence, again, N/S or E/W?

Compost bin for scale...

[mumofstig]

The origional Muntyframe was built so that the tallest side was the highest and faced South so that the sun can get under the frame as much as possible. Hope that helps you decide
There's a very old thread here
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=50801.msg402866#msg402866

[moreteavicar]

The origional Muntyframe was built so that the tallest side was the highest and faced South so that the sun can get under the frame as much as possible. Hope that helps you decide
There's a very old thread here
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=50801.msg402866#msg402866

Believe you me, I have read that p0ost through and through. :-)
As I am six feet tall (on a good day) and of limited flexibility, I was veering (I do a lot of that these days) towards making the frame higher,and a little less deep for ease of access.
 So planting underneath won't be a hugely important factor.

[mumofstig]

 
In which case I suspect building a  Munty would give no advantage, as it's designed to leave the soil under the south side open so you could grow something under it IYSWIM. Any strong bean frame would work if you aren't going to do that.
My ordinary bean frame runs North to South and the beans crop just as well on both sides, so I don't think the beans are that fussy 

[moreteavicar]

I think for me, the main attraction of the Munty is the ease of picking.

[JayG]

I built a Munty frame out of angle iron 10 or more years ago, so it's still there!

Before that I used the traditional inverted 'V' arrangement, which for me has two disadvantages - even in my fairly sheltered garden it needed guy ropes to stop it blowing over when fully laden, and the plants got very congested and the beans hard to spot towards where the canes meet.

"Wigwams' are more stable but the congestion problem was even worse.

A modification of the inverted ''V' is to cross the canes nearer the middle than the top (so more of an 'X' formation) - this avoids the congestion issue and ensures many of the beans are hanging down and easier to pick (a la 'Munty'.)
It's a reasonably stable arrangement, but it does take up more space, and you do require strong canes as they are of course partially unsupported, although I only had the occasional breakage using standard 8' bamboo canes (I chose them individually and with great care!)