Runner Beans---TRIFFID!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi catowen

You can plant them in single rows or a lot of people do 2 rows so that you can lean the canes against each other and tie... or you can also make a wigwam in a square or round tub..
I have some like that and some with the rows of 2 canes

Next time you start some off... keep hold of the empty loo roll tubes and plant them in that as they are great for beans as it trains the roots down and then you plant the whole tube as beans prefer not to have their roots disturbed

mary43

We grow our runner beans in a container so create a sort of wigwam and the runner beans climb up.
My dad did a similar sort of thing with canes in the garden...........he had two rows with a gap in the middle and tied the canes in a kind of arched effect if you know what I mean,so they grew up the canes and then met at the top.
Hope that makes sense.

comping_cat

Thank you both, i think you have both confirmed what i thought - i just wanted to double check!!!

Thanks MrsM re the loo rolls, will def do that next time!!!

Lotus-eater

Hi

I find a wigwam is stronger than a row, often a row will need to have securing ropes to stop it falling over. What I have done in the past is to build a heavy frame of scrap wood and put canes up each side, they should be far enough apart so you can walk down the middle. It makes it really easy to pick the beans then, it can get quite crowded in a normal wigwam or row.

Biggles

Jeez, Lotus, you mean you go inside your rows of canes? How tall are they? Or do you mean they don't lean together and meet at the top?

Lotus-eater

I mean they don't lean together, something like this
http://www.saundersallotment.co.uk/Resources/Project26%20Runner%20Bean%20frame.jpg
its not my photo, just found it, but I used to build something very similar.

In fact this is the first year I haven't done it (my frame finally gave up the ghost) and I have been busy so I've just gone for wigwams and a tunnel built from cheapy arches built over a path.

rubiales

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I've just gone for wigwams and a tunnel built from cheapy arches built over a path.

What a great idea Lotus-eater! :T

I have a rose-arch that was given to me as a pressie and it's just sitting in the garage. Got a few runners still to plant out- just need to decide where I'm going to site it now!

mirry

I planted them nearly 2 weeks ago , but nothing has happened yet ,
any ideas please ?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Have you started them off outside.or indoors? I would gently pull back the compost over where you planted 1 and see if anything is happening... hopefully you will see the white spur to show they are on their way

Jack's_mummy

DO as mrs m said and if you can't find them, they may have rotted. We had to replant 50% of ours as it was very wet for a few days and they just disintigrated into mush