Broad beans........ Runner beans

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Broad beans........ Runner beans

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Blacksmith

Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Sat Mar 12, 05 11:34 pm Post subject: Broad beans........ Runner beans
What height sticks/canes do you use for different beans ? Do you grow different varieties on the same set of sticks ? Any info welcome. Dave

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 05 8:25 am Post subject:
Even on our poor soil runner beans and climbing french beans will outgrow 8 foot canes and start across the top cane. So, get them as long as possible but be careful of shading out other crops. Depending on the type of broad bean they may not need any support.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 05 8:42 am Post subject:

There's some advice on this thread..basically the broadbeans might appreciate some sticks and string, but it's the runners you'll need to make sure have some sturdy supports. We didn't have many canes last year and tried a frame with strings for the beans (also for borlotti beans) but our garden is too exposed for that kind of thing and they came down several times.

Some people grow runners up sunflowers

but I should think you'd need to stake the sunflowers too.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 05 10:50 am Post subject:
Bob flowerdew reckons you can grow runners up sweetcorn, with squash as ground cover. The squash is probably OK, but surely the runners outgrow the sweetcorn and pull it down - they grow so fast (maybe sweetcorn does too - I've never grown it) I know its pretty substantial when it gets going, so maybe you just have to start it earlier?

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