Whether bean plants require support depends entirely on the specific variety being grown. Beans exhibit two distinct growth habits that dictate their need for vertical structures. Understanding these differences is the first step in successful bean cultivation, ensuring plants remain healthy and produce a maximum harvest. Checking the seed packet or plant tag for the variety name is the simplest way to determine the appropriate care requirements before planting.
Understanding Bean Growth Habits
The two primary classifications for beans are pole beans and bush beans, each having a unique genetic growth pattern. Pole beans have an indeterminate growth habit, meaning the plant continues to grow and produce flowers and pods throughout the entire season until frost. These vining plants can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet or more and use specialized tendrils to twist around any available support structure. Providing a sturdy vertical aid is necessary for pole beans to prevent them from sprawling on the ground, which can lead to tangled vines and disease issues.
Bush beans possess a determinate growth habit, meaning they grow to a compact, predetermined size, typically between 1 and 2 feet tall. These varieties do not produce long, vining runners and generally complete their reproductive cycle over a shorter, concentrated period of a few weeks. Bush beans are self-supporting and do not require trellising, making them ideal for quick, single harvests or limited spaces. Some heavily-laden bush varieties may benefit from short stakes to prevent the shallow-rooted plants from tipping over.
Benefits of Vertical Gardening
For pole varieties, guiding the vines upward through vertical gardening offers several significant advantages beyond simply keeping the plant off the soil. Growing beans vertically dramatically increases the potential yield per square foot because the plants produce continuously over a longer season. The vertical structure also exposes the foliage to better air movement, which reduces humidity around the leaves. This improved air circulation minimizes the risk of fungal pathogens, such as rust and powdery mildew, which thrive in damp environments close to the ground.
Elevating the plants also simplifies the harvesting process for the gardener. When the pods hang from a trellis or pole, they are easier to spot and pick, reducing the need for stooping and searching through dense foliage. Keeping the developing pods off the soil surface prevents them from becoming splashed with mud during watering or rain, which improves the quality of the harvest. Vertical growth can also deter ground-dwelling pests like slugs and snails, which find it harder to climb a taut, upright support structure.
Practical Support Structures
Several structures are effective for supporting vining beans, and the choice often depends on the scale of the garden and available materials. A common and simple method is the teepee, which involves arranging three to five long stakes, such as bamboo poles, in a circle and tying them together at the top to form a conical structure. A-frames are another popular choice, using two angled rows of poles joined by a horizontal crossbar at the peak, providing a sturdy, triangular frame. Gardeners with long rows may opt for a trellis or netting system, utilizing a frame covered in wire or wide-mesh plastic netting that allows tendrils to easily grasp and climb.
Regardless of the chosen design, the support structure must be installed either just before or immediately after planting the bean seeds. Waiting until the vines have begun to climb risks damaging the plant’s delicate root system when stakes are pushed into the soil. The structure must be robust enough to withstand the weight of a fully grown, heavily laden bean plant, which can act like a sail in strong winds. It is recommended that the support surface be no thicker than a broomstick, as twining beans struggle to wrap their tendrils around very wide poles.