Are you thinking of farming beans but don’t know if you need to put a trellis for them? There are many things to consider before planting beans ideally.
This article will discuss if it is necessary to put a frame on a bean plant or you can grow it naturally and other valuable tips and facts.
Do beans need a trellis?
Pole beans need a trellis to grow, while bush beans do not need any support pole. Bush beans grow compactly and grow about 2 feet, pole beans can grow 6-8 feet, and support is necessary for their growth. Both bean species have different characteristics and requirements.
Beans are one of the easiest plants to grow in your garden, and you can get a harvest from them in a short time. If you are a new gardener, beans are one of the best options.
Growing beans may be easy, but getting a good harvest needs a deeper understanding of their growth requirement.
So, you set up your mind to grow beans? But you are confused about whether you need to add support to the beans? Here is the detailed answer.
There are two different types of bean plants. One is the bush bean, and the other one is the pole bean. As the names suggest, bush beans grow like a bush and do not require a support pole.
While pole beans have a creeping appearance and can get as long as 8 feet and they must need a pole or support to grow.
Now you know the answer, but let us help you with which type of beans you should choose and how to take proper care of the bean plants.
There are some significant differences between those two types of bean plants. Read carefully to understand which one will suit best for your garden.
You can harvest bush beans in 55 days, and pole beans need 65-70 days. So if you need a fast harvest, choose bush beans. If you can wait, pole beans can be more beneficial.
Pole beans harvesting time can be about two months. And they produce more beans than bush beans. If you want a constant bean supply, you should choose pole beans.
Bush beans grow all the beans at once, so if you can freeze and store a lot of beans at once, you can grow bush beans.
Moderate to warm weather is suitable for bush beans, while pole beans need colder summer weather. To get the best harvest from your bean plants, you can choose a bean type considering your area’s climate.
Pole beans grow more beans from a small space. Bush beans need more space to produce a similar amount of beans. However, the plus point of bush beans is they need very little care and do not require any support pole.
The best time to plant beans is at the start of the spring when the soil is nice and warm. If you grow too early, the germination rate will decrease, and the root will rot. Check out some different types of beans and whether they need a support pole.
Bush beans:
Bush beans do not need a trellis as they grow compactly. They grow about two feet independently.
Green beans:
Bush green beans don’t need support, but pole green beans need 7-8 feet poles.
Lima beans:
Lima beans are also two varieties. Pole lima beans require a trellis, but bush lima beans do not.
Pole beans:
Pole beans can grow 5-8 feet tall and requires trellis.
Fava beans:
Fava beans do not need any support poles as they are bush-like plants.
Tender green beans:
Tendergreen beans are bushy plants, so they don’t need any support.
Yellow beans:
Yellow beans grow tall and need a support pole to grow.
Blue lake bush beans:
At first, it was a pole bean, but agriculture scientists developed bushy varieties of blue lake beans as it became popular.
Snap beans:
Snap beans can be the bush type that does not need support, mid-size, which you grow with or without a pole, and pole type, which requires a stick.
Pinto beans:
Pinto beans also have bush and pole varieties. Pole varieties require trellis.
Black beans:
Black beans have two varieties, pole type, and bush type. Pole ones need a trellis.
Kidney beans:
Bush kidney beans do not require any support, while pole kidney beans need a trellis.
French beans:
French beans can grow long and have a creepy appearance, requiring a pole.
Do all beans need support?
Only pole beans need trellis as support, but bush beans do not require any extra help to grow. Pole beans can grow 5-8 feet tall and requires something to climb up.
If you don’t add poles for pole beans, the plant will take more space, not grow properly and become prone to insects and diseases. So, you should always add some kind of support to them.
You can also make a hanging wire system instead of a pole. The wires will also support the bean plants to climb high. They just need to grow and reach 5-6 feet to get the necessary sun and produce more beans.
Can you add a pole to the bush bean plants? Yes, if you are worried about strong wind or stuff. But don’t hurt its root while adding support.
What kind of trellis do beans need?
Bamboo trails are the best for all types of bean plants. The pole needs to be 6-8 feet long. Stick poles also work, but you can get bamboo sticks of similar size.
You will have to change the bamboo poles after one or two seasons. You can remove the bamboo poles after the seasons and grow other plants before the next spring comes.
Iron poles can be an option if you want a permanent pole for this type of plant. However, those poles need coloring to make them weather resistant.
It’s also possible to make support using a chicken wireframe. It helps save space and is equally effective as wooden or metal poles.
How tall does a bean trellis need to be?
Bean trails need to be at least 5 feet tall. 6 to 8 feet tall support is preferable for pole bean plants. If you have mid-sized bean plant species, 3-4 feet trellis should work fine.
You can cut the top of the bean plants when they reach the top of the trellis. It will force the plant to grow more vines. This method will help you enhance the plant’s growth, and you will get more beans for each bean plant.
Bean plants do not require nitrogen fertilizer as the beans can fix nitrogen with its root. But you can add some compost fertilizer while seeding and add again after one month to get the best from your bean plants.
The bean plants do not only get nitrogen from the air. It also makes the soil nitrogen-rich, which will help grow next crops in the same land.
What different material trellis can you use for beans?
Here are some different ways to make a trellis for beans.
Wood or cane trellis:
You can use wooden sticks or canes to make bean trellis.
Bamboo trellis:
Bamboo sticks are one of the cheap and easy to get options for making poles for beans.
Commercial trellis:
You can also get commercial metal frames. It’s best if you decide to plant beans and similar plants for a long time.
String frames:
Wireframes are a cheap and effective way to trellis beans, although they can be tricky to make.
How do you make a cheap trellis for beans?
There are many ways to trellis your bean plants. But we will discuss the most efficient and easy way to make a trellis for your bean plant. You will need some strong strings and some canes for this. Follow the following steps to create a trellis for your beans.
Proper timing:
First, make mid-size square beds for your beans. The bed should be big enough to carry 7-8 bean plants. The bean plants should be planted at least 18 inches far from each other. Start working at least a week or two before the spring comes.
Timing is the key to a good harvest.
Tie with strong strings:
Now, take 7-8 bamboo sticks or cane and tie them at the end. Tie firmly with strong strings.
Make a round pyramid shape:
Make a round pyramid shape with sticks over the pea bed. Make sure each bar is nearly equal distance from the next bar.
Push the sticks:
Now, firmly push the sticks into the ground, so the structure stays strong.
Add some wires:
Additionally, you can add some wires around the plants, so the plants get some extra grip and support to climb up.
Final Thoughts
Some beans do need a trellis, while some beans can grow independently. Make sure your bean seeds are pole bean plants or bush bean plants and take steps accordingly. Both bean types have different characteristics, benefits, and requirements. So make sure to learn them first.