Directions for Green Bean Tepees

Tepees are a simple-to-build bean support.

A bean tepee is an attractive way to trellis pole beans in the garden. The tepees are simple and inexpensive to make, and can be used with pea vines as well as with beans. The tepees are simple to set up each year, and once taken down they can be stored compactly in a garden shed until the following spring. Bean tepees are made from wooden poles. Use either readily available bamboo poles or other wooden stakes that are at least 6 feet tall.

Things You'll Need

• Poles
• Twine

Instructions

1. Gather six to 10 half-inch diameter poles together, lining them up so the ends are even. Choose poles that have a slightly rough or knobby surface, as this provides better purchase for the bean vines.

2. Lash the tops of the poles together with gardening twine. Wrap the twine around the top four or more times then tie the ends together tightly.

3. Place the tepee in the garden and spread out the untied end of the poles to form a tepee shape. Push the bottoms of the poles into the soil 3 or 4 inches to help anchor the tepee in place.

4. Plant two or three bean seeds at the base of each pole on the tepee to a 1 to 2 inch depth. Guide the young vines to the poles once they sprout. The vines will climb the poles with no further aid once they find them.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave one side of the tepee unplanted. This makes it a living tent that children can sit inside on warm days. You can also harvest the beans from inside the tepee this way.

• Use only untreated wood poles for the tepee. Treated wood contains chemicals that can be harmful when grown with food crops.

References

• Cornell Cooperative Extension: Growing Beans in the Home Garden