DIY Network

Growing Tips, Bean Teepees Growing Tips, Bean Teepees From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-111

In this segment, discover planting tips for both bush beans and pole beans, then learn how to build a simple yet sturdy bean teepee to support pole beans as they grow....

advertisement

	Pole beans offer great use of vertical space since they climb up poles, trellises or homemade tepees.
	Use 14 1"x2"x6' cedar poles to make three teepees for the pole beans. The poles should have a rough surface, which works better than a smooth surface to enable the beans to climb the poles.
	Center the third pole between the first two, then pull them together, overlapping their ends 8" to form a cone.
	To start the pole bean seeds, use your finger to push the seeds about 1" into the soil.

• Most of the gardening techniques that work with bush beans also work for pole beans. The two types require slightly different care at planting time to ensure their best growth. Pole beans offer great use of vertical space since they climb up poles, trellises or homemade tepees. They also have a longer growing season and are more tolerant of hot temperatures than bush beans, which mean they will yield two to three times more than bush beans from the same amount of space.

• Because pole beans quickly grow into large, heavy plants, you should install your trellis at the same time as you plant and sow the seeds. To avoid injuring plant roots later, you should construct a simple teepee by tying several poles together and then sow the seed around the teepee.

• You can use 14 1"x2" cedar poles, each 6 feet long, to make three teepees for the pole beans. The poles should be one to two inches in diameter or width with a rough surface this works better than a smooth surface. The rough surface makes it easier for the beans to climb the poles. On one side and end of the raised bed, measure 12" from the end and placed the first pole. Then measure 3 feet from the first pole and place the second pole. Repeat the same steps on the other side of the bed. Next move to the other end of the bed and repeat the same steps.

• For the third teepee center it between the first two then pull the four poles together overlapping their ends 8" to form a cone. Using twine, tightly lash the poles together where they intersect. To give extra support to the teepees, add cross supports at the top and tie them to the teepees using the twine.

• The teepee should be sturdy enough to withstand strong winds and rain. Just be sure not to locate the teepee where it will shade other plants that need full sun. If you prefer, you can purchase teepee-style supports at your local garden center. Bamboo poles or saplings lashed together makes easy, inexpensive supports as well. Here's another tip: don't use chicken wire or fencing with lots of wires or small mesh as your supports. Horizontal wires cause the vines to wind around each other and choke.

• To start the pole bean seeds, use your finger to push the seeds about 1 inch into the soil. I sowed five to six seeds around each pole 6 to 8 inches away from the base. This is more seed than you'll need for each pole but it allows you to come back after the seeds have germinated to thin out the weaker plants. Use your hands to cover the seeds with an inch of soil and lightly tamp the soil. Finally, lightly mist the dry soil with a garden hose.

• As vegetable plants grow from seeds to seedlings, water requirements will change. Beans require little care except regular weeding and watering if the weather is dry. Bean plants need about an inch of water per week. The beans should be watered in the morning so the foliage is dry before dark.

• Bush beans will mature in 50 to 60 days; pole beans in 60 to 90 days. Beans are light feeders and do not need extra fertilizing as long as you plant in an enriched soil. You should fertilize young bean plants with an organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, every two weeks for the first six weeks, then once every three to four weeks.