Building runner bean supports

Bean supports need to stand up to the weight of the crop and strong winds,

- Tim Rumball

TWO of the most eagerly awaited summer crops are runner beans and sweet peas. They’re both quite easy to grow up a simple wigwam of bamboo canes, thrust into the soil, and tied at the top. This method of support looks fairly robust and is usually fine for sweet peas, but not runner beans, which will rocket away in the warm weather spreading into a wall of greenery. The first gust of strong wind can knock them flat. Even without strong winds, the weight of bean top growth can have a wigwam leaning over alarmingly, and it’s almost impossible to return it to a stable upright position.

Building the support

To build a strong wigwam you need a central supporting pole. Treated timber poles are available from garden centers or a DIY store. Buy one 8ft (2.4m) long and around 2in (5cm) in diameter (mine was 1 1 ⁄2in 4cm). After preparing the soil, pick a central spot, and hammer the pole vertically by about 2ft (60cm), leaving 6ft (1.8m) above the soil. You’ll need step ladders for the job.