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Post by davida on Jan 23, 2012 10:32:18 GMT -5
Poles don't have to cost anything. Martin What is the "ideal" height of the tepee and what is the minimum height that is feasible? Do you vary the tepee height for the different varieties of pole beans? For instance, I plan to plant pole beans that range in height from 5' to 20'. |
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Post by paquebot on Jan 23, 2012 13:30:07 GMT -5
Poles don't have to cost anything. Martin What is the "ideal" height of the tepee and what is the minimum height that is feasible? Do you vary the tepee height for the different varieties of pole beans? For instance, I plan to plant pole beans that range in height from 5' to 20'. One has to know a little about the variety before deciding on how high the support should be. Cornfield type beans won't go much above 5'. Limas will go 15'. Most Christmas trees are 7' to 8' and I don't stop for anything shorter. After setting them about 6" into the ground, the tepees are 6½' to 7½' and that's good enough for just about any pole bean. The plants will keep growing if they reach the top and merely flop downward and keep producing as normal. I've had White Willow Leaf lima on a tepee with about 9' poles and they nearly came back down to the ground. Martin |
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Post by templeton on Jan 23, 2012 20:11:56 GMT -5
For me an ideal height is the top of my outstretched arm. Made my teepees too tall this year, and I have to get a crate to stand on to pick the highest beans  T |
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Post by diane on Jan 23, 2012 20:30:49 GMT -5
I grow mine up bamboo poles with branches left on. They are way over my head, but flexible, so I just pull them down towards me to pick the high pods.
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Post by templeton on Jan 23, 2012 21:56:30 GMT -5
I grow mine up bamboo poles with branches left on. They are way over my head, but flexible, so I just pull them down towards me to pick the high pods. Ahh, I used bamboo, but made tripods so they aren't flexible. singles or pairs would do the trick. Nice idea diane. T |
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Hawk
gopher
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Post by Hawk on Jan 23, 2012 23:56:46 GMT -5
Nice thread  |
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Post by paquebot on Jan 24, 2012 0:40:39 GMT -5
For me an ideal height is the top of my outstretched arm. Made my teepees too tall this year, and I have to get a crate to stand on to pick the highest beans T I have one like that! It's an old tripod support for a roof TV antenna. Space between the legs have 2x4 fencing to support a lot of vines. Even set 6" into the ground, I need to stand on a 5-gallon pail to just reach the top. Planted Mr. Tung and Insuk's Wang Kong last year and both went right to the top and started back down. Martin |
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Post by DarJones on Jan 25, 2012 1:23:58 GMT -5
I make a trellis using 8 ft T-posts with a wire run at the top of the posts and another 1 ft off the ground, then I zig zag hay baling twine between the wires for the beans to climb. When the season is over, a cut with a sharp knife, a quick fire, and the posts and wires can be moved for another year. It is a very effective method of growing pole beans with relatively low labor and high return.
DarJones
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Post by davida on Jan 25, 2012 12:13:57 GMT -5
I make a trellis using 8 ft T-posts with a wire run at the top of the posts and another 1 ft off the ground, then I zig zag hay baling twine between the wires for the beans to climb. When the season is over, a cut with a sharp knife, a quick fire, and the posts and wires can be moved for another year. It is a very effective method of growing pole beans with relatively low labor and high return. DarJones Thanks for the information. I had read about this method and was glad to get more details. Do you plant on both sides of the trellis? How would you handle pole bean varieties that will grow to 15' to 20' and runner beans? David |
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Post by robertb on Jan 25, 2012 12:51:39 GMT -5
Let them grow up the poles and flop down again. They don't mind.
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