How to Garden Pole Beans

Fresh beans from your garden always taste better than store bought.

Pole beans are climbing plants that require support of a trellis or tall stakes for the vines to grow on. Placement in the garden is key as they require full sun and they themselves will grow quite tall, so be sure you are not placing them where they will block out light for other sun-loving plants in the garden. Pole beans are tasty and provide many more beans than a bush bean plant will.

Things You'll Need

• Pole bean seeds
• Hand Shovel
• 6 bamboo poles 6 to 8 feet tall
• Twine
• Water

Instructions

Create a Teepee with Bamboo Poles

1. Choose a full sun location to create your teepee and plant your beans.

2. Draw a circle with your hand shovel that is about 3 feet in diameter.

3. Space out 6 poles evenly around the circle and push them firmly into the soil. Lean them in toward each other as you will be tying them together at the top.

4. Gather the poles at the top and tie them together tightly with twine.

Planting Your Pole Beans

1. Build a small circular hill around the inside base of your newly created teepee that is about 3 inches tall and 2 inches wide.

2. Poke a hole 1 inch deep in the hill near the base of each pole--six holes total.

3. Place one bean seed in each hole and cover with soil.

4. Water your newly sown beans thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Water your garden daily and look for your beans to sprout in about 8 to 10 days.

• Add height and a focal point to your garden by strategically placing your bean teepee in your garden.

• Adding crushed egg shells around new shoots will prevent slugs and snails from eating the tender new leaves.

• Never soak the beans before sowing them. Soaking may cause cracks and allow bacteria to enter the seed.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Beans
• Cornell University: Pole beans, green beans (pole), wax beans (pole), Vegetable (Warm Season) - Other