Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - Re: [Homestead] bean trelises

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Clansgian AT wmconnect.com
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] bean trelises
  • Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:14:36 EST



> >Can they climb metal?

Since you mentioned "scorching summer sun", one caution is that if you are
in a very hot climate, the metal can heat up enough to damage the vines.

We don't get that scorching here, so I gather saplings and branches 12 to
14 feet long, an inch or so in diameter. Along a 4' field fence I weave the
poles into the wire and the beans climb up the fence and then keep going to
the top of the poles. The beans that are within reach of the ground or step
ladder are picked off as snap beans and the ones too far up are left to dry
for shell beans.

Pole beans will produce all season if they are kept picked, but when the
over tall vines matrue seeds at the top, it signals the vine to die. When
the
leaves are yellow head high, I plant more beans at the base and by the time
the ones at the top are through, new vines are creeping up the old haulms.
I' ve gotten four crops in the same spot some years by which time the spent
haulms are a thick mat and ready to be taken down for mulch.

Don't forget that if you overproduce beans, they are excellent animal feed.

James</HTML>




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page