What space do you give your Runner Beans?
I usually plant a double row 2 feet wide with canes spaced at 8" and one plant per cane. Last year I got poor germination - put the root trainers under the staging and failed to notice they got water logged by dripping - so this year I sowed extra and put the plastic tops on to protect them from the drips. So now it looks like I'll have about 120 plants from 128 I sowed for my 25 foot row so do I plant about 75 on my usual 8" spacing or 100 at 6"?
Runner Bean Spacing
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Cider Boys
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Hello Geof
This is the sort of dilemma that always perplexes me.
I always plant runner beans at 1 foot spacings with rows about 18 inches apart. However I think it is quite acceptable to grow the beans at 6 inch spacings but I would say 9 inch spacings to be the optimum for the most economic yield. There again I would hate to throw away bean plants.
I would try if possible to find some more land for the extra beans and space at 8-9 inches, so my advice is as useful as a chocolate fireguard I suppose.
One thing I am clear and certain about is that you are best to grow beans up canes tied together in a wigwam shape, say 4 to the wigwam.
This gives the beans a far stronger structure than the commonly seen canes tied against a top rail cane method. I have grown beans in very exposed fields and they stand up to winds far better as rows of wigwams than the top rail method and you save on canes as well.
All the best
Barney
This is the sort of dilemma that always perplexes me.
I always plant runner beans at 1 foot spacings with rows about 18 inches apart. However I think it is quite acceptable to grow the beans at 6 inch spacings but I would say 9 inch spacings to be the optimum for the most economic yield. There again I would hate to throw away bean plants.
I would try if possible to find some more land for the extra beans and space at 8-9 inches, so my advice is as useful as a chocolate fireguard I suppose.
One thing I am clear and certain about is that you are best to grow beans up canes tied together in a wigwam shape, say 4 to the wigwam.
This gives the beans a far stronger structure than the commonly seen canes tied against a top rail cane method. I have grown beans in very exposed fields and they stand up to winds far better as rows of wigwams than the top rail method and you save on canes as well.
All the best
Barney
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Geoff
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I think I might have found a home for spare plants at my source of free manure so it will help the barter system. Still haven't decided how many to use though.
I use substantial end posts and a half way post with tensioned wire between and lash the canes to the wire with binder twine and they don't blow over even though we are quite exposed.
I use substantial end posts and a half way post with tensioned wire between and lash the canes to the wire with binder twine and they don't blow over even though we are quite exposed.
Hi Geoff,
I plant 9" apart but generally put two plants per station. My structure has to be very sturdy for the same reason as Barney's. My structure is a double row of canes 30" apart with a ridge pole (of copper would you believe!) with diagonal canes woven into the uprights and tied in at the top and into the ground at the bottom. This gives the structure great rigidity. The woven canes give a 'V' effect looking at the row if you can imagine what I mean although the bottoms of the 'V' do not meet by several feet. I have three 1" galvanised pipes driven two feet into the ground down the length to anchor the whole structure these pipes also support the ridge pole.
I generally grow 160 Runners. My bean bed has been permanent for about 15 years (or longer) now without any untoward effects.
JB.
I plant 9" apart but generally put two plants per station. My structure has to be very sturdy for the same reason as Barney's. My structure is a double row of canes 30" apart with a ridge pole (of copper would you believe!) with diagonal canes woven into the uprights and tied in at the top and into the ground at the bottom. This gives the structure great rigidity. The woven canes give a 'V' effect looking at the row if you can imagine what I mean although the bottoms of the 'V' do not meet by several feet. I have three 1" galvanised pipes driven two feet into the ground down the length to anchor the whole structure these pipes also support the ridge pole.
I generally grow 160 Runners. My bean bed has been permanent for about 15 years (or longer) now without any untoward effects.
JB.