The Best Way to Build a Structure for Pole Beans

Trellis Shape

• To choose the shape of your trellis, consider the size and orientation of your garden. For a small garden, choose a shape that allows you to maximize space and increase variety of plants you grow. If you have a larger garden, you may want to build a pergola for resting on a sunny afternoon. Other circumstances also influence the decision. If you have young children, building a bean tepee or house can provide them a summer hideout. If you are older and need walking assistance, chose a structure that is easy to navigate. You can see many structures by visiting the sites listed in the references at the end of this article.

Trellis Materials

• Build a trellis from recycled materials, from sticks you have lying around your property, or from newly purchased materials. Trellises can be created from treated or untreated wood, PVC pipe, bamboo, metal or an old clothesline. Some trellises have cross supports out of wood, twine or wire. You can use also an existing fence as a trellis.

  Cornstalks are a natural trellis, provided the corn is planted three to four weeks before the beans, so they are strong enough when the beans begin climbing them.

  If you choose a wood trellis, bamboo has the advantage of being light, easy to work with and very strong. Tie three to six 8-foot poles together with cord about a foot from the top, and wrap it round the poles multiple times until the cord wrap is about an inch long. Separate poles and place into the ground as a tepee frame. The beans will grow up and cover it. The Beans and Peas website (see References) has illustrations and diagrams.

  Hardwood stakes or long PVC pipes can be used in the same way. Hardwood is not as light as bamboo and has splinters. PVC pipe and bamboo last for years. Metal is sturdy but can get hot during a sunny summer day. Treated wood can last longer than untreated wood, but contains arsenic. Cedar and redwood are more resilient to weather than other woods. Bamboo is considered an eco-friendly product, but could have a large carbon footprint if is imported from Asia rather than locally grown.

Place the Trellis before Planting

• Plant the beans in rich loamy soil after the trellis is already in place. You will avoid damaging tender seedlings or older plants when you have the trellis already placed.