How to Make Trellises for Runner Beans

Runner beans produce an attractive bloom.

Runner beans, Phaseolus coccineus L., like scarlet runner beans named after their red blooms, are green beans that may be grown for snap beans or for shell beans. Snap green beans are harvested when the seeds inside first start to swell. Shell beans are green beans that are left on the vine to allow the seed to mature, making the mature seed the food product. Runner beans are a variety of pole bean. As a pole bean that vines, runner beans require support such as a teepee trellis.

Things You'll Need

• Bamboo poles
• Twine
• Ladder
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Pound three to five bamboo poles into the ground about 6 inches deep. The poles should be 6 to 8 feet long. Space the poles 6 to 12 inches apart to create a triangle with three poles or a near-circle with more poles. Instead of bamboo, use recycled handles from a broom, mop or long-handled tool, like a shovel, or pruned tree limbs.

2. Use the ladder to reach the top of the poles. Pull together the top of two poles that are almost opposite each other. Cross the poles and use twine or wire to secure the two poles 6 to 12 inches from the top. Grasp the top of the remaining poles, crossing them in teepee fashion, and secure the poles with twine or wire. Runner beans grow to about 6 feet in length. The bean vines will wrap around the poles, decreasing the need for support taller than 6 feet. If you are planting a variety of runner beans that will reach a length greater than 6 feet, the vine will climb to the top and droop over. You can encourage it to climb around or back down the teepee.

3. Secure an end of twine at the top of the teepee. Twist the twine down one pole of the teepee. Space the twine wraps 4 to 6 inches apart. Repeat for each pole of the teepee. The twine provides a grabbing point for the tendrils of the runner bean.

4. Add horizontal lines, if desired, for additional grab locations for the growing vine. Secure twine 4 to 6 inches above ground level on one pole, stretch the twine to the next pole and secure it. Continue around the teepee, securing the twine 4 to 6 inches higher than the previous horizontal run. Continue to the top of the teepee.

Tips & Warnings

• When growing scarlet runner beans just for ornamental value, try planting the seeds next to an arbor or decorative flower trellis.

• If equal-length poles are used, a hole can be drilled about 6 inches from one end of each pole and completely through the pole. Cord, twine or wire can easily be threaded through the holes to pull the tops together to form the teepee.

• Soft garden soil can make it difficult to keep a ladder stable. If you need a ladder to secure the poles at the top to form the teepee, ask someone to hold the ladder for you.

References

• University of Maryland Extension: Green Beans
• Garden Action: Grow Runner Beans From Seed
• Veggie Gardener: Build a Teepee Trellis for Pole Beans