Overview
- Name: Climbing Beans
- Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
- Plant Family: Fabaceae
- Native to: Central and South America
Description
Climbing beans are vigorous annual plants that grow by twining around supports. They can reach heights of 2-4 meters (6-13 ft). The plant features long, slender green pods, and it typically produces white, pink, or purple flowers. Climbing beans are highly productive and can yield many pods from each plant.
Interesting Facts
- Climbing beans are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, which improves soil fertility.
- They have been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of their growth by ancient civilizations in the Americas.
- The plant is both heat-resistant and adaptable to diverse climatic conditions.
- Climbing beans can grow vertically, making them ideal for small gardens where space is limited.
Basic Growing Information
Common beans are warm-season crops that grow best at soil temperatures between 15-30°C (60-85°F), and are sensitive to cold temperatures and frosts. Plant beans after frosts has passed and the soil has warmed up.
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Water Requirements: Medium
- Soil Types and Properties: Fertile, well-draining loamy soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
- Pot Size for Container Growing: Minimum 30 cm diameter, but ground planting is recommended for best results
Planting
- Best Time to Plant:
- Climates with freezing winters: Spring, after the last frost
- Climates with milder winters: Late winter to early spring
Note: Check gardening calendars for the best planting times in your location
- Spacing: 15-20 cm (6-8 in) between plants; rows 1 meter (3 ft) apart
- Seed Sowing Method: Sow seeds directly into the ground or into seed trays for transplanting.
- Seed Sowing Depth: 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) deep
- Time to Harvest: 9-11 weeks when planted from seed
- Mature Height/Spread: Up to 4 meters (13 ft) tall
- Grown From: Seeds
Sow seeds in the garden when the soil temperature is at least 15.5°C (60°F). The optimal temperature for germination is between 15.5 and 29°C (60–85°F). Planting in cooler temperatures can result in slow germination and an increased risk of seed rot.
For a continuous harvest of beans over the summer months, make new plantings every 2–3 weeks.
Care and Maintenance
- Watering Tips: Water regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain consistent watering, as both water stress and waterlogging will reduce the quantity of yields and their quality.
- Fertilisation: Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser once a month; too much nitrogen can promote rampant growth but reduce pod production.
- Pruning: Not required, but can be pruned to manage size.
- Support: Requires trellises, stakes, or other structures to climb.
Growing Difficulty
- Easy to Grow
Growing Tips
- Use mulch to maintain soil moisture and temperature, and to control weeds.
- Install supports at planting time to avoid disturbing roots later.
How to Build Supports for Climbing Beans
Climbing beans require some form of support to bear the weight of the vines and enable them to grow vertically, permitting good light penetration and air circulation to all parts of the plant, reducing risk of disease, and producing optimum growth.
1. Instructions for Building a Tripod Support for Climbing Beans
Materials Needed:
- Bean poles (3 or 4)
- Rough-textured twine or wire
- Garden stakes (optional, for additional stability)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Choose Your Poles:
- Use bean poles with a rough surface to help the plants grip.
- Poles should be 1.8–2.1 meters (6–7 ft) long.
- Form the Tripod:
- Take three or four poles and arrange them in a tripod or teepee formation.
- Gather the tops of the poles together and secure them tightly with twine or wire.
- Plant the Beans:
- Plant the beans around the base of the tripod, spacing them evenly.
- As the beans grow, gently train the vines to climb the poles by wrapping them around the supports.
- Additional Tips:
- Ensure the tripod is stable and secure, if light poles are used, they can be held firmly in place by using a garden stake located in their centre of the tripod support, and tied where all the poles meet at the top.
- Water the plants regularly and pinch back the growing tips once they reach the top support to encourage branching and more robust growth.
2. Instructions for Building a Row Trellis for Climbing Beans
Materials Needed:
- Sturdy posts or garden stakes (2)
- Rough-textured twine
- Wire
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Position the Posts:
- Place a sturdy post at either end of the row where you plan to plant your beans.
- Ensure the posts are firmly anchored in the ground for stability.
- Connect the Posts with Wire:
- Connect the two posts with two lengths of wire.
- The first wire should be approximately 15 cm (6 in) from the ground.
- The second wire should be 1.5–1.8 meters (5–6 ft) from the ground.
- Use Twine to Create a Zigzag Pattern Between the Wires:
To provide a vertical support for the beans to climb on, rough-textured twine is used to create a create a series V-shaped trellises (WWWWW) from one post to the other.- Starting at the first post, tie the twine to the bottom wire, bring it up to the top wire, and loop it back down around the bottom wire.
- Continue zigzagging the twine along the wires until you reach the second post, then tie off the twine.
- Plant the Beans:
- Plant the beans along the row, spacing them evenly.
- As the beans grow, gently train the vines to climb the twine by wrapping them around the supports.
- Additional Tips:
- Ensure the trellis is stable and secure.
- Water the plants regularly and pinch back the growing tips once they reach the top support to encourage branching and more robust growth.
Support Construction Tips
These tips apply to the construction of both support systems for climbing beans.
- Choose Rough Materials: Use rough-textured poles and twine to help the bean plants grip better and climb more effectively.
- Spacing: Ensure there is enough space between plants to allow for good air circulation, which helps prevent disease.
- Maintenance: Regularly check the supports to ensure they remain sturdy throughout the growing season. Adjust the vines as needed to keep them on the supports.
Companion Plants
- Good companion plants include: Corn, cucumbers, radishes, marigolds, squash, carrots, and eggplants.
- Avoid planting near: Onions and other members of the allium family (garlic, leeks, shallots) as they can inhibit the growth of beans.
Beans, particularly when intercropped with crops like maize, can contribute to biological nitrogen fixation, which benefits the soil and the companion crops growing nearby. The longer the beans grow, the more nitrogen they can fix, which supports the nutrient needs of neighbouring plants.
Common Pests and Diseases
- Pests: Aphids, spider mites
- Prevention: Use insecticidal soaps or encourage beneficial insects.
- Diseases: Bean rust, powdery mildew
- Prevention: Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering.
Harvesting
- Harvest Time: Beans are usually harvested around two weeks after they flower, when pods are firm and snap when they are bent, but before before the seeds inside mature and become too noticeable, forming bumps on the pod.
- Harvesting Tips: When harvesting climbing beans, it is recommended to use scissors or pruning shears rather than pulling them off the plant. This helps prevent damage to the plant and encourages continued production of beans. Regularly harvest beans every 2-3 days to promote more pod production and maintain the health of the bean plant.
Propagation
- Produce new plants from seeds.
Culinary Uses
Beans are a versatile and nutritious food, enjoyed both fresh and dried. As a fresh green vegetable, beans can be used in salads, steamed, or stir-fried. They can also be dried, cooked, and preserved by canning or freezing, making them a staple in many cuisines.
Nutritionally, beans are very low in fat and cholesterol and can help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body. Their high protein content makes them an excellent meat substitute for vegetarians. Additionally, beans are extremely low in calories, making them a popular choice among calorie-conscious individuals.
Climbing beans, in particular, offer a wide range of culinary applications and are valued for their versatility in the kitchen.
In conclusion, climbing beans are an excellent choice for home gardeners seeking to maximize vertical space while enjoying a bountiful harvest. Their ease of growth and nutritional value make them a rewarding crop for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
Please feel free to add any growing tips in the comments below, and also include your climate/hardiness zone if it’s helpful.