Boz is a big fan of green beans and the pole bean trellis (but for different reasons). Lucky for me, the green beans form two feet off the ground.
My Fortex and Romano green beans have sprouted, and they are looking for my support–something I’ve come to expect in a good pole bean.
After trying all kinds of structures and contraptions–trellises, teepees, stakes, sticks, wattles, and poles–I’ve found a great solution for a long row of pole beans. It’s my tomato trellis, modified with vertical rungs of bamboo poles.
- Drive two metal end stakes into the ground the distance of the bean run, securing three wires between each pole.
- The wires are spaced a foot apart beginning a foot from the soil.
- Then, take tall sticks or bamboo poles and weave them vertically between the wires, forcing one end firmly into the ground for added support.
- Alternate the wire weave action in the next bamboo pole, working my way down the row. This creates strong tight wires to support the vertical bamboo/stick trellis.
- A couple months later, and you’ll be enjoying easy pickin’s.
What I was blogging about one year ago: When My Coffee Cup Takes a Walk
22 responses so far ↓
1 Mark Hoben // Jun 24, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Brilliant as per usual Mr. Conway. I can’t help but think your vibrant drawings would make for an engagingly illustrated gardening book. We should definitely talk.
2 Tom // Jun 24, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Thanks Marky Mark, good idea.
3 Bart // Jun 24, 2010 at 10:46 pm
We should talk too. And not just about the index.
4 beth // Jun 25, 2010 at 5:02 am
Love Fortex thanks to Tom C. I am trying a new vairety to me this year- Soleil. Cant wait to see what they are like. That is if the snails will stop mowing them down.
5 Tom // Jun 25, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Beth, I’m trying a couple new bean varieties too: –Gold of Bacau: http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=1185 and one called state half runner.
6 renae // Jun 25, 2010 at 3:38 pm
You are so clever. You’ve also given me reason to spend 10 minutes wondering how far the urine mist rises. You never know– perhaps it’s exactly what your soil needs.
7 Linda // Jun 26, 2010 at 10:32 am
The garden looks fantastic. I love the drawings. I know what Boz is really thinking, Green beans are great, but when are the raspberries going to be ready! I hope you have had enough sunshine for those delicious berries.
8 Tom // Jun 26, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Linda, yes ma’am, the raspberries berries are thriving, loving these cool nights. I’d say they are about two weeks out beginning ripeness. I have a couple new varieties: Royalty (purple), Fall Gold (uh, well gold), and Caroline (an autumn bearing berry). Your picking bucket is waiting.
9 Nita Dickerson // Jun 27, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Tom, so glad to meet you on the Garden Tour, and so glad Sarah mentioned that you had a wonderful blog. I can see already that it will be inspiring me. Thanks neighbor.
10 Tom // Jun 27, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Nita, great to meet you! I’ll finish off the tour today, then step back into a little garden reality: weeding. Thanks for the kind words.
11 Sophie // Jun 29, 2010 at 8:16 am
Your garnde is triving!!
Nice pictures & your drawings allways explain it well!
Kisses from Brussels!
12 Patrice Wassmann // Jun 29, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I love your bean trellis, great idea I may have to try . Right now I am using the standard tripod. Oh, and the stop sign by my garden now has beans growing up it
Just found your site today and am sure I will be a regular visitor!
13 noel // Jun 29, 2010 at 4:58 pm
aloha tom,
thank you for visiting my sari sari blog, i enjoyed your comments on washington’s home and the siding material with sand, really interesting.
i’m enjoying my first time visiting your blog, especially the slug art…quite unique
i’ll be visiting again and look forward to your posts.
i have a garden blog also that you might enjoy
14 Sylvie in Rappahannock // Jun 30, 2010 at 8:30 pm
I love the drawings too, looked back a few posts and the tomato trellis… yeah.. good idea! lovely illustration.
A dog who loves green beans… precious… does he eat the dreaded Mexican Bean beetle. Under attack here this year – first time ever… YUCK!!!!
15 Eileen @ Passions to Pastry // Jul 1, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Pipi will only eat green beans if they’re seared in olive oil ;-P
I’ll be picking my first beans today! Have a great 4th of July weekend!
16 Helga Forhan // Aug 16, 2010 at 12:20 am
I do enjoy your blog, does any one have a recipe for making fig jam from fresh figs?
17 Tom // Aug 16, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Hi Helga, thank you, and yes I’ve got a great recipe for fig preserves. I usually add diced candied ginger for a little kick. I’ll find the recipe and post it shortly. Cheers!
18 Julie // May 21, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Thank you so much for posting your plans for the bean trellis. We just installed raised cedar beds and I am trying to find ways to use the space efficiently.
19 Nancy // Jul 10, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Best I have seen. First year without Hubby to stake the beans. No way I could do what he did so was looking for something “user” friendly.
Have my metal stakes and will buy bamboo this week.
Thanks so much for the wonderful bean trellis you shared with so many.
20 Tom // Jul 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Julie and Nancy, thanks for the kind words and here’s to a summer full of beans!
21 Daniel // Jan 25, 2012 at 4:34 am
Hi Tom, this is a rather odd request, but my name is Daniel and I’m a recent college grad trying to start up a youth program in Los Angeles. After settling with the name “Trellis,” I’ve been looking high and low for an image that would be suitable for a logo and I ran across your drawing in this page. It is quite simply one of the clearest, most beautiful drawings of a trellis I’ve seen on the internet (and I’ve seen quite a few). Can we get in touch to see if we might be able to use your drawing for our logo? (with credits, of course!) Thank you so much!
22 Tom // Jan 25, 2012 at 7:34 am
Hi Daniel, I’d be honored to help. I’ll shoot you an email to discuss. Congratulations on your recent graduation and your running start to help the youth of LA. Bravo.
Leave a Comment