Runner beans grow upwards - up to a maximum height of 3 meters. In order for the tendrils to find sufficient support, a stable climbing aid is essential. This is set up in the bed before sowing the runner beans to protect the sensitive roots from possible damage.

The selection of the climbing aids

There are many different climbing aids for pole beans. Well-known are the typical bean tents, which make perfect use of free space in the vegetable or herb bed. If there is enough space in the garden, rows of poles placed against each other can be set up.

Runner beans climb up individual trellises just as well. They are either set up in a row at a distance of 50 - 60 cm or individually wherever the garden offers little space.

You can make climbing aids yourself without much effort. Suitable materials are long wooden poles or bamboo sticks, fixed ropes stretched upwards or wire.

This is how you set up a bean tent in the garden bed

  • dig deep into the ground
  • Get materials: about 5 - 6 long poles (round wood or bamboo poles)
  • Drive poles deep into the ground in a circle to keep them stable
  • Tie poles together at the top like a tent
  • Sow bean seeds directly on the trellis
  • the young plants begin to climb up the sticks from the start

That is something to consider.

Even though runner beans grow up to three meters tall, you will hardly be able to harvest them at this height. Climbing aids up to 2 meters high are therefore completely sufficient.

Alternatively, you can select pole bean varieties that only grow to a maximum of two meters in height. These include the “Rakker” variety with green pods.

tips and tricks

Garden dispatch offers ready-made bean tents. A set, e.g. by Pöetschke, consists of tension cords, ground frames and ground spikes.

Category:

Vegetable garden